2026 Michigan Townships Association Conference

What Would Your Board Do? Interactive Township Case Studies

In this session, you’ll step into the role of a township board and run a fictional township through a year’s worth of real-world decisions. Municipal attorneys will guide you through commonly faced case studies—controversial rezoning requests, heated public comment, sensitive employee issues and broad Freedom of Information Act requests. You’ll vote on what your board would do, see how your choices stack up against other officials, and then find out how those decisions line up with Michigan law and best practices. Leave with concrete ideas and strategies you can bring back to your next meeting. A complimentary lunch is provided, and two attendees will be randomly selected to receive a deluxe gift basket as a thank you for joining us.

Speakers: Municipal attorneys from Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC<

Building a Better Community Now

Townships can enforce ordinances through violation letters, notices and citations. Regardless of the method, code enforcement can become costly and time consuming. Looking for tips on making code enforcement less demanding on your time and budget? Don’t miss this review on how to initiate enforcement cases, the evidence needed to prosecute the violation and the role an ordinance enforcement officer can play in the process.

Speakers: Jacob Witte and David Szymanski, Attorneys, Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC; and Doug Kuhlman, Zoning Administrator & Code Compliance Officer

Firehouse Rules

Many townships utilize paid on-call firefighters to manage fire suppression in a cost-effective manner while opening opportunity for valuable service to the community. Paid on-call firefighters create a unique set of challenges in employment law, including questions about whether they are volunteers or employees, how and when to pay them, and the application of the Earned Sick Time Act. Join us as we discuss the ins and outs of working with paid on-call firefighters.

Speakers: Chad Karsten and Thomas Forgione, Attorneys, Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC

Wage and Hour Basics: Getting Pay Right, Every Time

Although most townships process payroll “the way it’s always been done,” it may not be right! Learn when you must pay employees (including paid on-call staff!), what the basic requirements of minimum wage and overtime calculations are, when compensatory or flex time can be utilized (safely!) and much more from employment law experts.

Speakers: Helen “Lizzie” Mills and Kayla Seger, Attorneys, Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC

Zoning Strategies for Affordable Housing

Discover strategies for expanding your township’s housing options without sacrificing local character. We’ll review practical zoning approaches that align with your township’s size and infrastructure, and offer insights into crafting ordinances that encourage housing diversity and support affordability while thoughtfully addressing common concerns. We’ll explore proven approaches—such as accessory dwelling units, lot-size flexibility and mixed-use districts—along with solutions like brownfield housing amendments, community land trusts and land banks.

Speaker: Wayne Beyea, JD, AICP, and Trent Cunningham, Attorneys, Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC

Managing Civil Rights Complaints

Both the public and your township employees have the right to file complaints against your township for perceived violations of civil rights. These can range wildly from a complaint from a resident about law enforcement interactions to a township employees’ concerns about how they’ve been treated at the township. Learn basic complaint management to best position the township to avoid and, if necessary, respond to these investigations and survive the administrative agency processes.

Speakers: Helen “Lizzie” Mills and Chad Karsten, Attorneys, Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC