ROSEDALE — Residents in Rosedale are pushing back against a proposed ordinance that would change how the small town selects aldermen.

The proposal would shift from voting for three at-large members to splitting seats into divisions. Many community members who attended the meeting spoke against the change, saying it could influence who wins and manipulate election structures.

"I'm opposed to districts because we're a small village," said Alderwoman Catrina Northern. "We're a population of less than a thousand people. There's no need to have divisions A, B and C."

Northern also said she fears the proposed system will create unnecessary division in the community.

"It will cause more division among the people, instead of actually bringing us all together," Northern said.

According to a study from the University of Michigan, forcing head-to-head matchups dilutes minority voting power.

Alderman Carroll DeVillier said he supported the change to divisions and wanted to hear from residents directly.

"I just thought divisions were better for Rosedale," DeVillier said.

He told the crowd he was open to conversation and asked residents to call him to discuss the ordinance.

"We're going to have three aldermen either way," DeVillier said. "I'm going to do what I think most of the people in Rosedale want me to do anyway."

Mayor Dana Alexander noted that village meetings have drawn more residents in recent months.

"We're working on parks. We got the bridge painted. I'm working on getting grants. I'm trying to get the roads re-surfaced. So a lot of things are happening. I hope they're showing up because they see improvements are being made," Alexander said.

The ordinance will be discussed over the next month, taken up again in October and voted on at the November meeting.