By Elizabeth Lowe
Staff writer
Goodrich – Residents turning out to vote Aug. 2 should come prepared.
The ballot proposal could change the village charter and the way future village dissolution attempts are handled by adding portions of general law language to the village charter.
Voters are being asked to approve the proposal ‘by reference?, meaning portions of Michigan Compiled Law are referred to by number’but not spelled out’on the ballot.
Complete information will ‘probably not? be provided at the polls, says Atlas Township Clerk Tere Onica, who will run the election.
‘I don’t want it to provoke questions at the polls for my election workers,? Onica said.
Portions of general law that could be added to the village charter are MCL 74.18a, 74.19, 74.20, 74.23, 74.23a, 74.23b, 74.23c, 74.23d, 74.23e, 74.23f, 74.23g, 74.23h, and 74.23i. Michigan Compiled Law can be accessed at http://www.legislature.mi.gov/.
To vote via absentee ballot, contact the Atlas Township offices at (810) 636-2548. Completed absentee ballots must be received in the Atlas Township office by Aug. 1.

What happens with charter changes

*If village residents vote yes, charter is permanently changed to allow residents to initiate dissolution if desired
*To initiate dissolution, residents collect signatures from 15 percent of registered village voters, after which village council chooses one of two options:
1. The council may immediately put a village dissolution question to a vote; it must be passed by a supermajority, or two-thirds of voters, in both Goodrich and Atlas Township
2. The council may alternatively form a disincorporation commission with three Goodrich and three Atlas Township members to draft a dissolution plan to handle assets, liabilities, services, and other obligations
If draft is approved by both the Goodrich Village Council and Atlas Township Board, the plan is put up for a majority vote of 50 percent plus one voter in both Goodrich and Atlas Township
If this alternate option fails for lack of participation, or if not passed by one board, an election is forced under Option 1, since the amended charter requires a vote within one year of receiving petition signatures

Source: Tom McKenney, legal counsel to Village of Goodrich