Government

At the City of Northville, government is about more than delivering services, it’s about building and sustaining a thriving community. We manage essential operations like water service, sanitation, and snow removal while also investing in the public spaces, events, and downtown experience that define Northville’s character.

With a focus on fiscal responsibility, transparency, and long-term planning, we work to ensure every decision supports the community’s well-being today and into the future. Our goal is simple: to provide exceptional service while preserving what makes Northville special.



Form of Government
Incorporation
The City of Northville was incorporated in 1955 as a Home Rule City under Michigan Statutes. The City operates under the Council-manager form of government with an elected Mayor and City Council appointing a full-time City Manager. The City Charter is the document that provides the basic operational framework for City government.

Mayor
The Mayor of Northville is the chief executive officer of the City. He is elected at large and serves a two-year term of office. Under the City Charter the Mayor has no veto power but presides at meetings of the City Council. City Charter sets the Mayor’s pay at $600 per year.

City Council
The City Council is the legislative and policy making body of the City. The City Council establishes policy, approves contracts, enacts ordinances and approves rules and regulations, which supplement the ordinances and policies of the City. The City Council is comprised of the Mayor and four Councilmembers, all elected at large. Councilmembers are elected in non-partisan elections for overlapping four-year terms. City Charter sets the pay for Councilmembers at $500 per year.

Regular meetings of the City Council are set prior to the beginning of each year, but have traditionally been held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 6:30 p.m.

City Manager
The City Manager’s Office provides general administrative services for the management of the City to ensure that all City Council policies and directives are implemented. Further, the City Manager coordinates the work of all City Department and employees. The City Manager is directly responsible to the City Council and serves at the pleasure of the City Council.

The City Manager is responsible for the enforcement of all ordinances and expenditure of funds in accordance with the budget and the City Charter.

City Attorney
The City Attorney serves as the legal advisor for the City Council, City Manager, and all City Departments. He represents the City on most lawsuits by or against the City. The City Attorney reviews the form and content of ordinances, resolutions, agreements, and other official documents of the City. Traditionally, the City has retained separate legal firms for specialty assistance such as when the City needs legal counsel for labor relations assistance or long-term financing arrangements.