Ketchmark v. Lynch

This case involves the question of construction of the Municipal Code with respect to the right of a mayor or village president to vote on ordinances.

Prior to 1941 a mayor or the president of the village board had no right to vote except to break a tie. In 1941 the law was amended to enlarge the presiding officer's voting privileges. This caused certain unforeseen ambiguities in the Cities and Villages Statute. For example, does a reference to the members of a council or board of trustees include the mayor or president of the board ?

The ambiguities and inconsistencies presented a field for…