Sec. 2-176. Prohibited Representations:
   (a)   Officer Prohibition: Throughout an officer's term of office:
      (1)   No member of the Village Board shall, under any circumstances, represent any applicant at any hearing, meeting, or other assembly of any Commission, except: (a) as provided in subsection (a)(3) of this section; or (b) if the member appears on behalf of the Village Board, if duly authorized to make such an appearance; and
      (2)   No officer serving on any Commission, other than the Village Board, shall, under any circumstances, represent any applicant at any hearing, meeting, or other assembly of any Commission, except: (a) as provided in subsection (a)(3) of this section; or (b) if the officer appears on behalf of the Commission of which the officer is a member, if duly authorized by the Village Board or the Commission on which the Officer sits to make such an appearance.
      (3)   Nothing in this subsection (a) shall be deemed or interpreted as prohibiting an officer from appearing on behalf of himself or herself at a hearing, meeting, or other assembly of the official's Commission or another Commission, or before Village a Village employee, upon compliance with the following:
         (A)   If the purpose of the officer's appearance does not relate to the real property of that officer, then the officer shall not make such appearance except upon the prior approval of the Village Board. Nothing in this section shall be deemed or interpreted as prohibiting the petition or request by the officer to the Village Board for such approval; and
         (B)   The officer shall comply with the rules for disclosure and recusal, as may be applicable, set forth in section 2-177 of this Code.
   (b)   Village Contractor Prohibition:
      (1)   No person or business entity who is currently under contract with the Village to provide the Village professional or construction-related services shall appear and represent any applicant at any hearing, meeting, other assembly of any Commission, or before Village staff, or submit evidence to any Commission or Village staff on behalf of any such applicant, under any circumstances, except: (a) as provided in subsection (b)(2); or (b) if the contractor is appearing on behalf of the Village, if duly authorized to make such an appearance by the Village Manager. A person or business entity who is currently under contract with the Village to provide the Village professional or construction-related services may make a written request to the Village Manager for a waiver from this subsection, which waiver the Village Manager may grant provided that the Village Manager determines that the granting of waiver does not negatively impact the interests of the Village. The Village Manager may impose conditions when granting a waiver. In the event that the Village Manager denies a request for a waiver, the person or business entity that requested the waiver may appeal the Village Manager's determination by filing an appeal with the Village Board within seven (7) days of the Village Manager's determination. The Village Board may overturn the Village Manager's determination and grant a waiver only upon a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Corporate Authorities.
      (2)   Nothing in this subsection (b) shall be deemed or interpreted as prohibiting a person or business entity who is currently under contract with the Village to provide the Village professional or construction-related services from appearing on behalf of itself at a hearing, meeting, or other assembly of a Commission, or before a Village employee seeking official action provided that the contractor discloses its contractual relationship to the Commission or Village employee before which the contractor appears. Such disclosure shall include (a) that the contractor has a contract with the Village and (b) the nature of that contract. (Ord. 0-22-04, 1-3-2022)