KALAMAZOO, MI -- The executive director of the Edison Neighborhood Association was arraigned Tuesday in Kalamazoo County District Court on a misdemeanor charge of selling alcohol without a license.

Tammy Taylor, who has served as the neighborhood's executive director since 2001, was arraigned by Judge Tiffany Ankley on a single count of disorderly person -- sale of alcohol without a license at a neighborhood association event on Feb. 5, according to court documents. The charge is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein said the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety began investigating the incident after a citizen filed a complaint about the illegal sale of alcohol at the event. The charge against Taylor was authorized on April 2.

Taylor, who pleaded not guilty, declined to comment on her arraignment when reached by phone Tuesday and referred questions to her attorney, Donald Smith.

Smith said the charge stems from a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the Edison Neighborhood Association on Feb. 5 where alcohol and spaghetti were served to attendees. Smith said people were charged a fee to attend the dinner, but noted alcoholic drinks were not sold individually.

Smith said he was surprised the charge was authorized against Taylor, noting the issue could have been handled with a warning letter from the prosecutor's office.

Klein said she was unsure when the prosecutor's office last authorized a charges for selling alcohol without a license, but noted it is a "seldom-charged offense."

Smith questioned the decision to charge his client.

"Does a leader of a community organization need to be charged for an alleged misunderstanding of the law for trying to do a fundraising activity for such a noble cause? I don't think so," Smith said. "This is at worst a misunderstanding of the law that was brought to the attention by somebody that wants the worst for Ms. Taylor and her organization."

At recent Kalamazoo City Commission meetings, local business owner Richard Stewart has made multiple complaints during citizens time about alcohol being illegally sold at a recent Edison Neighborhood Association spaghetti dinner fundraiser.

The dinner was first discussed during the Feb. 16 commission meeting when commissioners voted to expand downtown building design guidelines south into the Edison and Vine neighborhoods, a move Stewart vehemently opposed. Vice Mayor David Anderson initially referenced the event to note that there was strong support among attendees for expanding the design guidelines.

Smith identified Stewart as the citizen who made the initial complaint about the dinner and said his motivations for doing so are politically charged.

"I don't know what role he's going to play in all this, but his motivation is not to ensure that liquor laws are enforced," Smith said of Stewart. "This whole thing came about as a result of a bunch of political back and forth that's gotten kind of nasty."

Stewart could not immediately be reached for comment.

Smith said he is working to determine if Taylor did unintentionally break the law by offering alcohol at the dinner.

"Her heart was absolutely in the right place," Smith said, noting this is the first time Taylor has been charged with a crime. "When exactly you need a liquor license is not something many people understand, especially when you're not actually selling the alcohol."

Alex Mitchell is a reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Email him at amitche5@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.