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All standing Aldermanic Committees of the Council shall be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the majority of the Council, and may be changed at any time by the Mayor with the approval of the majority of the Council. The Mayor shall be an ex officio member of all standing committees. All special committees shall be appointed in the same fashion and shall have duties as delegated to them by Council. All matters to be considered by the standing committees shall have been referred to said committees by the Council.
(Ord. 17-46, passed 12-26-2017)
The following standing committees of Council shall be appointed:
(A) Administration;
(B) Budget, Finance and Revenue;
(C) Building and Zoning;
(D) Human Relations and Housing;
(E) Licensing and Taxation;
(F) Outreach Committee;
(G) Police and Fire; and
(H) Public Works, Parking, Trees, Traffic, Streets and Sewers.
(Ord. 17-46, passed 12-26-2017)
The standing committees enumerated in § 210.14 shall have duties as follows, in addition to other duties delegated to them by Council.
(A) Administration Committee. The Administration Committee shall:
(1) Keep informed of and investigate all matters and proposals relating to city personnel including but not limited to department organization and structure, hiring and disciplinary practices, personnel evaluation processes, personnel policies and employee wages and benefits, and shall report and recommend to Council from time to time as it deems advisable;
(2) Keep informed as to the activities of the city's administration staff and report and recommend to Council from time to time as it deems advisable;
(3) Keep informed of and investigate all matters relating to the city's insurance programs; IMRF, vacation and sick policies. The committee will also serve as the authorizing agent, within limits set from time to time by Council, to investigate and authorize settlements of lawsuits and claims against the city.
(B) Budget, Finance and Review Committee. The Budget, Finance and Review Committee shall:
(1) Review upon all accounts payable and payroll reports submitted to the city, and present Council reports recommending payments of sums;
(2) Keep informed of and investigate all matters and proposals relating to finances and investments of the city and the Finance Department of the city, and report and recommend to Council from time to time as it deems advisable;
(3) Coordinate and schedule all meetings and public hearings relating to the proposed annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance submitted by the Mayor, and report and recommend to Council from time to time as it deems advisable.
(C) Building and Zoning Committee. The Building and Zoning Committee shall:
(1) Keep informed of and investigate all matters and proposals relating to the city and the Zoning Code, including but not limited to matters relating to the erection, repairing and remodeling of buildings and structures, accessory buildings, fences and permits, special use permits, certificates of compliance, health and hosing standards and issues related thereto and report periodically to Council as it deems advisable;
(2) Keep informed of and investigate matters and proposals relating to business and economic development within the city including but not limited to all requirements for and administration of issuance of permits, including fee structures therefore;
(3) Keep informed of and investigate city-wide project planning and problem solving proposals relating to the city, including but not limited to infrastructure planning, research of sales and rental data reported by area realtors and landlords, home equity assurance programs, overseeing a plan for capital improvement and redevelopment;
(4) Keep informed of and investigate the activities of the city's Zoning, Planning and Development Commission; and
(5) Report and recommend to Council from time to time as deems advisable in all matters.
(D) Human Relations and Housing Committee. The Human Relations and Housing Committee shall:
(1) Provide education and outreach programs to educate the community, equalize opportunities, eliminate discrimination and promote good will among all persons;
(2) Advise the city and departments on issues of policy that relate to human relations and discrimination; and make recommendations of policy to the city to address, readdress, prevent or discourage acts of discrimination;
(3) Recommend policies for city departments to lessen conflicts and improve understanding in the community; especially for matters related to quality of life issues for residents and businesses;
(4) Study and investigate landlord/tenant issues and concerns;
(5) Advise the City Council on matters relating to policies and programs which will serve to further workforce and affordable housing inventories and programs.
(E) Licensing and Taxation Committee. The Licensing and Taxation Committee shall:
(1) Be responsible for regulating all city licenses, business, and all corresponding fees and sources of revenues;
(2) Act as a hearing board on matters coming within the provision of § 801.12(B) of the Business Regulation and Taxation Code or any similar provision passed by Council in substitution thereof;
(3) Keep informed, investigate and coordinate all matters relating to fees, general and special taxation and special assessments, and report and recommend to Council from time to time as it deems advisable.
(F) Outreach Committee. The Outreach Committee shall:
(1) Create and investigate procedures and ordinances for Council approval providing an open government format;
(2) Assist in the formation of respectful trusting relationships throughout the city and share and distribute important information about the city and topics of concern that adequately inform residents of important events, procedures, departments and general happenings in the city, including but not limited to the use of social media;
(3) Focus on enlisting the participation of residents, community members, and city employees in the educational process and establishing collaborative relationships focused on positive impacts;
(4) Confer with the Berwyn Development Corporation, the Building and Public Works Departments regarding issues related to business, planning and economic development. Confer with all community-based organizations and groups, including citizen, educational civic, fraternal, veteran and social service agencies, regarding issues related to community concerns and activities.
(G) Police and Fire Committee. The Police and Fire Committee shall:
(1) Keep advised concerning the administration, operation and needs of the Fire Department and the Police Department, particularly with relation to the finances thereof;
(2) Confer with the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners regarding hiring and promotion policies;
(3) Monitor the safety training and policy manuals of the Fire Department and the Police Department;
(4) Report and recommend to Council from time to time as it deems advisable.
(H) Public Works, Parking, Traffic, Tree, Streets and Sewers Committee. The Public Works, Parking, Traffic, Tree, Streets and Sewers Committee shall:
(1) Keep informed of and investigate all matters and proposals relating to Public Works, the care and maintenance of all bridges and streets (including alleys, sidewalks and parkways) and report and recommend to Council from time to time as it deems advisable;
(2) Keep informed of and investigate all matters and proposals relating to trees, shrubbery and other vegetation in the city, and report and recommend to Council from time to time as it deems advisable;
(3) Recommend to Council action as it deems advisable to be taken with reference to any utility furnishing gas, electricity, internet, cable, telephone service or another public service to the people of the city or to the city itself;
(4) Keep informed concerning the administration of the Water Department, investigate and study problem of furnishing water for use by the residents and for municipal purposes, and report and recommend to Council from time to time as it deems advisable pertaining to the Water Department or water rates to be charged; and
(5) Keep informed of, investigate, and monitor recycling activities and proposals in the city, and report and recommend to Council from time to time as it deems advisable.
(Ord. 17-46, passed 12-26-2017)
(A) Rules statement. Any member of the corporate authorities may attend any open or closed meeting of the city via electronic means (such as by telephone, video or internet connection) provided that attendance is in compliance with these rules and any applicable laws.
(B) Prerequisite. Any member of the corporate authorities may attend a meeting electronically if the member meets the following conditions:
(1) A quorum is physically present throughout the meeting; and a majority of the corporate authorities votes to approve the electronic attendance at the meeting;
(2) The member shall notify the City Clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting, unless impractical, so that necessary technical arrangements will not result in denial of a request for remote attendance; and
(3) The member must assert one of the following three reasons why he or she is unable to physically attend the meeting:
(a) The member cannot attend because of personal illness or disability;
(b) The member cannot attend because of employment purposes or the business of the city; or
(c) The member cannot attend because of a family or other emergency.
(C) Voting procedures. After a roll call establishing a quorum is physically present, the presiding officer shall call for a motion that a member shall be permitted to attend the meeting electronically after specifying the reason entitling the absent member to attend electronically. The motion must be approved by a vote of a majority of the corporate authorities.
(D) Adequate equipment required. The member participating electronically and other members of the corporate authorities must be able to communicate effectively, and members of the audience must be able to hear all communications at the meeting site. Before allowing electronic attendance at any meeting, the city shall provide equipment adequate to accomplish this objective at the meeting site.
(E) Minutes. Any member attending electronically shall be considered an off-site attendee and counted as present electronically for that meeting if the member is allowed to attend. The meeting minutes shall also reflect and state specifically whether each member is physically present or specifically whether each member is physically present or present by electronic means.
(F) Rights to remote member. A member permitted to attend electronically will be able to express his or her comments during the meeting and participate in the same capacity as those members physically present, subject to all general meeting guidelines and procedures previously adopted and adhered to. The member attending electronically shall be heard, considered and counted as to any vote taken. Accordingly, the name of any member attending electronically shall be called during any vote taken, and his or her vote counted and recorded by the Clerk and placed in the minutes for the corresponding meeting. A member attending electronically may leave a meeting and return as in the case of any member, provided the member attending electronically shall announce his or her leaving and returning.
(G) Electronic attendance of Mayor. If the Mayor is attending a meeting electronically, an Council member physically present at the meeting site will be appointed the presiding officer for that meeting via motion and approval by the corporate authorities.
(H) Committees, boards and commissions. These rules shall apply to all committees, boards and commissions established by authority of the corporate authorities.
(Ord. 06-54, passed 12-27-2006)