(St. Joseph, MI) - An effort to remove two New Buffalo City Council members before their terms expire has crossed the first hurdle.

The language in petitions to recall John Humphrey and Brian Flanagan was unanimously approved on May 3 by the Berrien County Election Commission during a clarity hearing at the Berrien County Administrative Building in St. Joseph.

Reasons cited in the petitions for recalling Humphrey and Flanagan are their November 23 votes to adopt an ordinance prohibiting new short-term rentals in the city's R1, R2, and R3 zoning districts.

The unanimous decision by the city council in favor of the ordinance went against the recommendation of the New Buffalo Planning Commission, which felt more information was needed before deciding whether to impose the cap.

Berrien County Chief Deputy Clerk Sheila Reitz said the recall petitions would require 219 valid signatures for a recall election in November. If enough signatures are obtained, she said Humphrey and Flanagan would face opposition on the ballot.