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Can current township employees (including township zoning administrators) serve on a planning commission for the township they work for?

No. The Michigan Planning Enabling Act, Act 33 of 2008, MCL 125.3801 et seq. allows municipalities to create planning commissions. Among other things, planning commissions make zoning decisions and help prepare master plans. Section 15 of the Planning Enabling Act prohibits township employees from working for a township and serving on its planning commission. MCL 125.3815(5). In contrast, the Planning Enabling Act allows city or village managers (or their designees) to serve as members of their city or village planning commission. Id. Thus, a township may not appoint a current employee (including zoning administrators) to serve on its planning commission.

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