(A) Public Comment Policy: Pursuant to and in accordance with section 2.06(g) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, the Board of Trustees will provide 2 separate opportunities for public comment at Board meetings. The first opportunity is during the "public comment - agenda items" agenda item that is scheduled before the business portion of the Board meeting. The second opportunity for public comment is during "public comment - general items" agenda item that is scheduled at the conclusion of the business portion of the Board meeting.
The Board has a responsibility to conduct the business of the Village in an orderly and efficient manner and to establish reasonable procedures for public comment at its meetings. The Mayor, as Chair of the meeting (or the Chair Pro-Tem in the Mayor's absence) is responsible for ensuring the orderly conduct of the meeting and will rule on the appropriateness of any public comment issues that may arise.
The following procedures for public comment are intended to maintain the orderly conduct of meetings and ensure fairness to those who wish to address the Board:
(1) Anyone interested in speaking publicly at a Board meeting is welcome. Individuals are asked to sign in just prior to the start of the meeting.
(2) Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes per person during either public comment portion of the meeting. The total time allotted for the public comment periods will be 30 minutes, unless a majority of the Board votes to extend the discussion.
(3) Any person who is not allowed to make remarks during public comment shall be permitted to submit written comment to the Board either before or after the time for public comment with the Village Clerk.
(4) Only 1 person may speak at a time during any public comment period.
(5) No person may assign their time to any other person.
(6) The Chair may deny a person who has previously addressed the Board the opportunity to speak again during the same meeting on the same topic.
(7) No person may address the Board or engage in public comment except during 1 of the 2 defined public comment periods, when recognized by the Chair.
(8) During any public comment period, Board members may ask questions of the speaker while he or she is speaking, if recognized by the Chair. However, the Board need not answer questions from a speaker during any public comment period. If a person has a question for the Board, the individual may be asked to submit the question in writing.
(9) All comments must be civil in nature. Any person who engages in threatening, slanderous, or disorderly behavior when addressing the Board, or who speaks out of turn or otherwise disrupts the Board meeting, shall be deemed out-of- order by the Chair. Repeated or extraordinary occurrences of disorderly conduct shall be grounds for the Chair to cause the violator to be removed from the meeting room. The Chair will rule on whether remarks made are in violation of this policy.
(10) The Board has the authority to determine procedural matters regarding public participation not otherwise defined in this policy and not inconsistent with this policy.
(B) Public Hearings: All public hearings required by State Statute to be held by the Board of Trustees will be conducted in accordance with State Statute. All persons offering testimony at a hearing shall testify under oath. Public hearings are not part of the public comment period or periods of a meeting and are not subject to the public comment policy referenced in division (A) of this section.
(1968 Code § 3.11) (Ord. 17-5-2075, passed 5-8-2017)