According to the Minnesota Association of Townships:
Black's Law Dictionary defines a resolution as a “… formal expression of the opinion or will of an official body…” Resolutions are generally used by town boards to express a particular position, to make an appointment or designation, or to adopt a policy that, while potentially binding on the township, is administrative or ministerial, and not legislative in nature. Common examples of resolutions include the following:
- Recognizing the special efforts of a group of volunteers
- Appointing someone to a board, commission, or other such post
- Adopting a policy on how the Town Board will handle a particular duty
Resolutions generally are not subject to any formal method of adoption. This means that unless a specific statute provides otherwise, a resolution only requires a simple majority vote of those voting on the issue. There is no requirement that they be signed or published, although it is recommended that they be signed so that it is clear that they have been officially adopted by the town board. Further, the courts have held that a resolution adopted in the same formal manner as an ordinance (i.e., majority vote of the entire body, publication, etc.), will be afforded the same recognition as an ordinance. It is, however, recommended that townships try to be careful in distinguishing between those items handled by resolutions and those which should be dealt with by a formal ordinance.