Please note that I’ve referred to the Local Historic Districts Act (MCL 399.201, et seq) as the LHDA, the Clarkston ordinance (152.01, et seq of the Clarkston Code of Ordinances) as the Clarkston Ordinance, and the HDC charter proposal as the Charter Proposal.
Discussion:
The LHDA and the Clarkston Ordinance do not address this issue.
This section of the Charter Proposal concerns unauthorized and unapproved costs incurred by HDC commissioners. It prohibits the HDC commissioners from consulting with the city attorney; the city’s contract planning firm, building department, engineering firm, or assessor; or any other professional that would cause Clarkston taxpayers to be charged for the consultation unless the HDC has received approval from the city council for the charge. City council authorizations for such professional consultations must include a maximum allowable fee, and all costs must be charged to the HDC’s general appropriation budget.
Notes:
No city official or appointee is authorized to incur unapproved and unbudgeted expenses, and that includes HDC commissioners. Unexpected and unauthorized charges require that money be moved from other parts of the city budget to accommodate the unauthorized expense, leaving less money for things the city council and city manager have deemed necessary at budget time.
Paid for by Susan Bisio, P.O. Box 1303, Clarkston, MI 48347 with regulated funds.)