1. Michigan Village Council: Legal Basis & Structure

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Legal Framework

• General‑law villages in Michigan are governed by the General Law Village Act, Public Act 3 of 1895, which serves as their charter 

• Section 62.1 states that each village must elect a village president, six trustees, a clerk, and a treasurer. The president and trustees together form the council Michigan Legislature.

 

Roles & Responsibilities

• The village council (president + six trustees) handles legislative and policy decisions.

• The president serves as the nominal head and presiding officer.

• The clerk manages elections, official records, and minutes.

• The treasurer handles receipts, disbursements, and accounting.

Boundary Changes & Disincorporation

• Annexation procedures (incorporating new territory) and disincorporation follow specific statutes in the Act. Annexations require approval by the county Board of Commissioners; disincorporations involve petitions and possible vote measures.

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2. Election Cycles & Terms for Village Councils

Term Length & Staggered Elections

• Michigan villages often use staggered terms: half the trustees elected every two years, and the president typically elected every two years or every four depending on local ordinance.

• For example, in Marcellus, Michigan: voters elect three trustees every two years (each serving four-year terms), while the President is elected every two years.

• Other villages have adopted four-year terms; some mix term lengths to maintain continuity.

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Elections Timing

• Regular village elections may occur in March of odd-numbered years as per statutory schedule; however, many villages have moved to hold elections in November of even-numbered years to align with general elections

• As in Lake Orion, elections take place the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even years, following local resolution and state consolidation law

Michigan Election System Oversight

• Village elections fall under statewide election rules. The Michigan Secretary of State, the Board of State Canvassers, and the Bureau of Elections oversee certification, equipment approval, and legal compliance Michigan.

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3. Typical Village Council Meeting & Compensation Practices

• Councils meet regularly according to local ordinance; quorum and meeting rules must follow the Michigan Open Meetings Act.

• Pay structures can vary: councils may be paid per meeting or receive a monthly stipend. Changes require ordinance amendments.

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4. Macomb County & City Governance: How It Works

County Structure & Board of Commissioners

• Macomb County is a charter county with a County Executive and a 13-member County Board of Commissioners elected from single-member districts.

• Until the 2024 elections, commissioners’ terms were two years; as of 2025, terms are now four years, matching the County Executive shift.

• Board members are elected in presidential election years, with the next major election scheduled for 2028.

County Powers & Functions

• The Board sets the county budget, adopts ordinances, and oversees county departments like courts, health services, roads, and more.

• County services support, but do not replace, local municipal governance (e.g. cities and villages manage zoning, police/fire, local roads).

City Governments in Macomb County

• Cities in Macomb County (e.g., Sterling Heights, Mount Clemens, Roseville, Eastpointe) operate under a council‑manager system or similar.

  • Sterling Heights: mayor plus six council members, all directly elected; terms changed from two to four years starting in 2021.

  • Mount Clemens: operates council‑manager government with elected mayor and council.

  • Roseville: elects mayor, treasurer, city clerk, and six council members all to four-year terms, staggered so only half the council seats appear in odd‑year elections.

  • Eastpointe: adopted ranked-choice voting (single transferable vote) in municipal elections beginning in 2019.

Interaction with County

• Villages and cities in Macomb still handle most local services; the county provides regional support and oversight.

• Annexation of township land by villages or cities is controlled at the county level via the Board of Commissioners.

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Summary

A. Michigan Village Governance

1. General Law Village Act (PA 3 of 1895) – legal foundation.

2. Elected officials – president, six trustees (council), clerk, treasurer.

3. Terms & Elections – typically staggered terms; elections in March or November depending on local decisions.

4. Annexation & Disincorporation – county‑level decisions and voter referenda.

5. Meetings & Compensation – governed by local ordinance and state law (Open Meetings Act).

B. County & City in Macomb County

1. County government – County Executive + 13‑member Board of Commissioners (now 4‑year terms from 2025).

2. County powers – budget, ordinances, county-level services.

3. City governance – council‑manager form; mayor and council elected, with staggered 4‑year terms.

4. Specific cities: Sterling Heights, Mount Clemens, Roseville, Eastpointe (notable for ranked‑choice voting).

5. Interaction – annexations and boundaries managed at county level.