Principles of Governance Excellence

The Michigan Townships Association Board of Directors has adopted the following suggested Principles of Governance Excellence as approaches to township government to which township officials may aspire. Individual township boards are invited to adopt these principles as their own:

To maintain the high standards and traditions of Michigan townships, we embrace these dynamic principles of governance excellence to guide our stewardship, deliberations, constituent services and commitment to safeguard our community’s health, safety and general welfare.

We pledge to: 

•       Insist on the highest standards of ethical conduct by all who act on behalf of this township; 

•       Bring credit, honor and dignity to our public offices through collegial board deliberations and through diligent, appropriate responses  to constituent concerns; 

•       Actively pursue education and knowledge, and to embrace best practices;

•       Treat all persons with dignity, respect and impartiality; without prejudice or discrimination;

•       Practice openness and transparency in our decisions and actions;

•        Cooperate in all reasonable ways with other government entities and to consider the impact our decisions may have outside our township’s  borders;

•       Communicate to the public township issues, challenges and successes, and welcome the active involvement of stakeholders to further the township’s well being;

•       Strive for compliance with state and federal statutory requirements;

•       Refuse to participate in any decisions or activities for personal gain, at the expense of the best interests of the township;

•       Further the understanding of the obligations and responsibilities of American citizenship, democratic government and freedom.

These principles we pledge to our citizens, our state, and to our country.

(Note that these principles are not necessarily statutory requirements, but represent standards for representative and responsive township government.)