Opinion ID: 2551404
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Resolution versus Ordinance

Text: Cooper argues that the Town was required to pass an ordinance authorizing the debt, rather than doing so with a resolution. Similarly, he contends that the modification of the promissory note was likewise invalid because it was accomplished through resolution and not the passage of an ordinance. Cooper bases his argument on Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-114(a) (Michie 1997), which states that: [a]ll municipal legislation shall be by ordinance, unless provided otherwise by law[.] In addition, he notes that before an ordinance can become effective, it must be published in a local newspaper or posted for ten days in the city clerk's office. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-116 (Michie 1997). Cooper contends that since the Town neither published nor posted its action regarding the debt, the resolution cannot in any way be considered an ordinance and, hence, the Town's approval of the debt was void. Our statutes do not define legislation as that term is used in § 15-1-114(a). However, other authorities have considered what that term means in the context of the difference between resolutions and ordinances: A resolution in effect encompasses all actions of the municipal body other than ordinances. Whether the municipal body should do a particular thing by resolution or ordinance depends on the forms to be observed in doing the thing and on the proper construction of the charter. In this connection it may be observed that a resolution deals with matters of a special or temporary character; an ordinance prescribes some permanent rule of conduct or government, to continue in force until the ordinance is repealed. An ordinance is distinctively a legislative act; a resolution, generally speaking, is simply an expression of opinion or mind or policy concerning some particular item of business coming within the legislative body's official cognizance, ordinarily ministerial in character and relating to the administrative business of the municipality. 5 Eugene McQuillan, Municipal Corporations, Nature and Operation of Ordinances § 15.02 p. 59 (3rd Ed.1996). In this case, the signing of the loan agreement by the city does not constitute a permanent act or a rule of general applicability. Indeed, given the mandatory language used by the legislature in approving the appropriation of funds for the project, it is arguable that the Town had little choice in deciding whether to enter into the debt. In that situation, a resolution is clearly appropriate since the actual signing of the debt instrument is strictly a ministerial act. Furthermore, in Thomas v. Jultak, 68 Wyo. 198, 231 P.2d 974 (1951), this Court considered whether or not the City of Cheyenne could vacate a portion of an alley. The City had effectuated its vacation of the alley through a resolution of the city council subsequently signed by the mayor. In the course of decision we stated: We may incidentally mention that whether or not the alley was vacated by resolution rather than ordinance makes no difference in the absence of a statute to the contrary. Thomas, 231 P.2d at 981 (citations omitted). The legislature has specifically authorized the Town to incur debt based on funds provided by other governmental agencies. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-103(a)(xlii) (LEXIS 1999). However, it has not required a concomitant obligation to do so exclusively through an ordinance. The legislature has required that other acts by municipalities be accomplished by ordinance only. See, e.g., § 15-1-103(a)(viii) (appropriation of money). Under these circumstances, we can only conclude that absent a specific requirement that it act by ordinance, the Town could act by resolution.