Recall Petition Language Targeting Two New Buffalo Officials Approved

berriencountyadmin1-59
berriencountyadmin1-59

The language of three recall petitions targeting two city officials in New Buffalo has been approved by the Berrien County Election Commission. The Berrien County Clerk’s office tells us the petitions seek the recall of Mayor John Humphrey and Councilman Brian Flanagan. They state the two should be recalled for voting in favor of an ordinance to prohibit short-term rental properties in R1, R2, and R3 zoning districts. Additional recall petitions filed against the mayor say he should be recalled for instructing a police officer to remove an individual while she was speaking during her allotted time in the public comment section of a meeting. Six petitions were initially filed, but the petitioner withdrew three. They had identical language to the other three, only were handwritten instead of typed. Now that the election commission has approved the language, the two officials have ten days to appeal. The collection of signatures to force an election could then begin.