After 10 days of email and pat answers from the mayor and team (not the person) I’ve found out very little. You’d have thought that an ordinance as local law was straight forward, specific and easy to understand. Unfortunate that does not seem to be the case in Manchester, Michigan.
For example, if two people who knew each other had a heated discussion in public over the Michigan, Michigan State game, they would be breaking Manchester, Michigan Ordinance? In one instance I found a blight ordinance was not enforced at all and there real safety and community cleanliness reasons for compliance. I was informed another ordinance could be enforced for one stalk of grass above 8″ and gone to seed.
When certain individuals violate state or local ordinance the council issues a variance without consulting affected neighbors. It appears ordinance in Manchester does not protect residents but is punitive and not uniformly applied.
Now I’m waiting for a meeting with the Village Manager, Washtenaw County Sheriff lead for Manchester and the Village Attorney… just to understand what the community standard is for ordinance.
The bad news about capricious laws is there is not telling who they target and tomorrow it could be you without notice.
Consider this…
“To be valid, an ordinance must, at a minimum, serve a public purpose within the scope of the local governing body’s authority; it must be consistent with applicable local, state, and federal charters, laws, constitutions, and public policies; and it must be precise and reasonable.”
“If an ordinance is vague, ambiguous, or indefinite so that it is impossible to determine what the ordinance requires or to determine the legislative intent, the courts will hold the ordinance void. The meaning of an ordinance must be clear enough so that persons who are subject to its provisions can determine what acts will violate it”
*From the Michigan Municipal League – Chapter 7: Local ordinances
What's next? 