Legislative- Ordinance Revisions
The Village of Blissfield is working to revise our ordinances. As we work through these amendments we will be communicating with the public at various stages. These communications may include feedback, public comment opportunities as well as notice of adoption. Our goal is to amend our ordinances to be easily understood by residents, and to structure the ordinances in a way that enhances readability. We welcome comments, suggestions and feedback at all steps of the process. You can reach out to a council member, or the administrator with any feedback. This page will be dedicated to providing updated information to the residents regarding pending amendments, repeals, approved and denied revisions.
Amendments will be structured as follows:
Strikethrough- these items are in the current ordinance and are being proposed to be removed
Highlighted– these items are NOT currently in the ordinance and are being proposed to be added
Amendment- the ordinance is being changed in some way
Repeal- the ordinance in its full is being removed and/or moved. In the event the ordinance is being moved as part of the restructure the repealed ordinance will notate the new ordinance section.
PROPOSED DRAFT ORDINANCES
APPROVED ORDINANCES
Ordinance Amending Chapter 5 Compensation for Village Officials
This amendment is being proposed due to an independent contractor agreement between the Village and the Building Inspector. Rather than making amendments to the ordinance, the agreement would act as the guiding document between the two parties and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of each party. The ordinance amendment refers to said agreement so that it does not need to be amended each time there is a change to the agreement. The proposed amendment is scheduled for a public hearing at the April 8, 2024 council meeting, comments may be submitted prior to the meeting to administrator@blissfieldmichigan.gov.
Ordinance Amending Subdivision & Zoning Ordinance
As part of the continued ordinance updates and following adoption of the Master Plan these ordinances are being proposed to align with the Master Plan recommendations. The proposed amendment and repeal is scheduled for a public hearing at the February 5, 2024 Planning Commission meeting and then again on February 12, 2024 at the Village Council meeting. Comments may be submitted prior to administrator@blissfieldmichigan.gov.
Ordinance Amending Chapter 216.1315 Planned Unit Developments
Ordinance Repealing Chapter 210.063 Planned Unit Development
Chapter 21- Eating & Drinking Establishment Ordinance Repeal
This drafted repeal would eliminate this ordinance. Currently eating and drinking establishments are regulated by the State and Public Health inspections, the Village sees minimal revenues from this ordinance that do not currently offset any responsibilities. In an effort to minimize duplicated services, Administration is proposing to repeal this ordinance. The proposed repeal and repeal is scheduled for a public hearing at the January 22, 2024 Village Council meeting. Comments may be submitted prior to administrator@blissfieldmichigan.gov.
Chapter 23- Public Dances Ordinance Repeal
This drafted repeal would eliminate this ordinance. This ordinance is outdated and currently goes unused. Administration is proposing to repeal the ordinance rather than leaving an antiquated ordinance on the books. The proposed repeal and repeal is scheduled for a public hearing at the January 22, 2024 Village Council meeting. Comments may be submitted prior to administrator@blissfieldmichigan.gov.
Chapter 24- Pool Rooms and Bowling Alleys Ordinance Repeal
This drafted repeal would eliminate this ordinance. This ordinance is outdated and currently goes unused. While we do have a bowling alley within Blissfield is is permitted within the zoning ordinance and does not require a separate ordinance. Typically when communities require licenses for businesses it is for all businesses, none or high risk only. The proposed repeal and repeal is scheduled for a public hearing at the January 22, 2024 Village Council meeting. Comments may be submitted prior to administrator@blissfieldmichigan.gov.
Chapters 144 & 145 Park Hours & Park Regulations Ordinance Amendment & Repeal
As part of the continued ordinance updates, Administration is recommending amendments merging the two ordinances into one for parks to be more clear and to combine into one chapter, rather than having them listed separately. The proposed amendment and repeal is scheduled for a public hearing at the January 22, 2024 Village Council meeting. Comments may be submitted prior to administrator@blissfieldmichigan.gov.
Chapter 111 Animal Ordinance Amendment & Chapter 112 Dogs Ordinance Repeal
Chapter 111 Animal Ordinances is being recommended for amendment to be more clear, amend the penalty for violation and to combine Animals and Dogs into one chapter, rather than having them listed separately. The proposed amendment and repeal is scheduled for a public hearing at the January 8, 2024 Village Council meeting. Comments may be submitted prior to administrator@blissfieldmichigan.gov.
Ordinance Amending Chapter 1
Chapter 1 Village Code of 1970; Contents, Interpretation and Effect is a proposed ordinance amendment to create and establish municipal civil infractions. Municipal civil infractions will be utilized as a resource for the Village staff to enforce ordinance violations and deter repetitive violations. Residents have asked council to better enforce ordinances and council has set code ordinance amendments to do so as a top priority. These revisions start the process, further amendments will be proposed to allow municipal civil infractions offenses for certain code violations (still to be determined).
Chapter 150 Water Supply and Sewage Disposal Systems is a proposed ordinance amendment with the intent of achieving a couple of different council goals. One of them being the definition of a “unit” to help clarify when a property will be billed more than one unit. The second goal is to identify situations or circumstances in which Village staff may use their judgement and information recieved from residents to grant waivers. The proposed amendment includes two possible solutions for utility billing issues, one being repairs made when water did not go into the sewer system, allowing for sewer only fees waived, the second being one time adjustments due to causes outside the control of the customer and/or village.
Chapter 140 Village Administrator is a proposed ordinance amendment to align with the recently revised personnel policy. Currently, the Village Council hires and terminates all employees, the new personnel policy gives this authority to the Village Administrator with the exception of Department Heads which will still go to the Village Council for approval. Council additionally will continue to interview and oversee all processes involved in hiring the Village Administrator. This amendment just reflects the processes as outlined in the personnel policy. The council remains the appeal board for any decision made by the Village Administrator regarding personnel issues.
Chapters 5, 8, 9, 11 and 14 have been approved for restructuring of the Village Ordinances.
Chapter 5 is currently Compensation for Village Officials, this chapter will have Chapters 8, 9, 11 and 14 merged into it as sections rather than multiple chapters related to the same topic. The amendments & repeals were approved by council at the April 10, 2023 meeting.
Ordinance Amending Chapter 5 Compensation for Village Officials
Ordinance Repealing Chapter 8 Compensation for Building Inspector
Ordinance Repealing Chapter 9 Compensation for Zoning Administrator
Ordinance Repealing Chapter 11 Compensation for Mechanical/Plumbing Inspector
Ordinance Repealing Chapter 14 Compensation for Electrical Inspector
Chapters 12 Election of Village President, Trustees, Clerk and Treasurer & Chapter 13 Terms of Office and Fiscal Year are proposed amendments due to conflicts of ordinances Part 16 Position of Village Clerk and Part 17 Position of Village Treasurer adopted in September 23, 2019 which make the clerk and treasurer appointed positions rather than elected positions.
This amendment was approved by council at the April 10, 2023 council meeting.
Ordinance Amending Chapter 12 Election of Village President, Trustees
Ordinance Amending Chapter 13 Terms of Office and Fiscal Year
Address
130 South Lane Street
P.O. Box 129
Blissfield, MI 49228
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