Oxford Village residents got one step closer last week to deciding whether or not they wish to live under the city form of government.
In a 4-0 vote that took place in Lansing Dec. 13, the Michigan State Boundary Commission recommended approval of the village’s petition to incorporate as a city.
‘The commission voted unanimously to allow the proceedings to go forward,? said Boundary Commission Manager Christine Holmes.
At its Feb. 21, 2008 meeting, the boundary commission is tentatively scheduled to adopt a ‘findings of fact? document that ‘substantiates the information on the record and the basis for the commission’s decision.?
‘That accompanies the order that goes to the director for signature,? Holmes said. ‘It usually gets to the director within a week (of adoption). I try to process those right away.?
Keith Cooley, director of the state Dept. of Labor and Economic Growth, is the one who must sign an order allowing the cityhood process to continue through local votes.
‘He has however long he wants (to sign), but it’s usually no longer than a couple weeks,? Holmes said.
Cooley can choose not to sign the order and cite his reasons to the boundary commission.
But that’s unlikely to happen.
‘Historically, they support allowing the locals to make the final decision,? Holmes said.
Once an order is signed by the director, it doesn’t become effective for 45 days during which time village residents can petition for a referendum on cityhood featuring a ballot question asking voters a simple ‘yes? or ‘no? question ? shall the incorporation process continue?
In order to hold a referendum, a petition signed by at least 5 percent of the village’s registered electors must be submitted to the boundary commission to determine its legal sufficiency within the 45-day period.
If the referendum petition is valid, the commission will order an election to take place.
If village voters say ‘no? to the referendum question, the incorporation process ends right there. If they vote ‘yes?, the process continues and another election must be held to elect a nine-member commission to draft a city charter.
Should the director’s original signed order stand for 45 days with no petition for referendum, then once it becomes effective, village voters must still elect a charter commission. Either way the village must get a charter drafted and approved by voters within two years to become a city.
‘That two-year clock starts ticking on the date of the order,? Holmes said.
During that ‘two-year window,? as Holmes put it, the commission has only two shots at getting a new city charter approved by voters. If both charter elections fail, Oxford remains a village and part of the township.