(A)
Membership on the Executive Committee shall be comprised of at least the following:
(1) County Board Chair;
(2) Democratic and Republican Leaders or, in the absence of the Democratic or Republican Leader, the Democratic or Republican Whip;
(3) Chair of each of the other standing committees of the Board or, in the absence of any such Chair, the Committee Chair may request of the Executive Committee Chair that the Vice-Chair attend in their stead, with voting privileges and would constitute a quorum; and
(4) In addition to the County Board Chair, Democratic and Republican Leader and Committee Chairs, all remaining members shall be determined by leadership. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(B) Committee appointments. The County Board Chair, in consultation with the Democratic and Republican Leaders, shall appoint the Chair of each standing committee from the membership of the Democratic or Republican parties, and shall appoint such other members of the seven standing committees excluding the Executive Committee as is deemed necessary for the proper oversight and functioning of the business of the Board. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(C) Committee vacancies. Whenever any member of any committee is either temporarily or permanently unable to perform the duties of such appointment due to resignation, death, disability, illness, or absence, the appointing authority may declare such position vacant and appoint another member to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy is temporary and not permanent, the appointment shall terminate once the incumbent member is able to return to perform the duties of the committee assignment. For purposes of this division (C), “absence” shall be defined as missing three consecutive meetings of a single committee, in which case the County Board Chair may replace that member either permanently or temporarily. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(D) Standing committees.
(1) There shall eight standing committees of the County Board. Each standing committee shall consist of at least five members, except the following: the Executive Committee, which shall consist of at least 10 members. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(2) The date and time of a committee's meeting shall be set by the County Board Chair in consultation with the Committee Chair. At a meeting of a committee, in the absence of a Committee Chair, the Committee Vice-Chair shall act as temporary Chair. In the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair, present committee members, with the ability to comprise a quorum, may elect a Chair-Pro-tem in order to conduct the business of the Committee. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(3) The standing committees and their responsibilities are as follows:
(a) Executive. This Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. Assignment of all matters to all standing committees for consideration.
2. Consideration of all County Executive appointments.
3. The approval of the County Board agenda.
4. Making a recommendation to the Board on all contracts for professional services, including but not limited to insurance and audits.
5. The review and oversight of the Community Development Block Grant Program, including recommendations to the Board for grant proposals. Economic development; hearings on the issuance of county licenses, in accordance with state statutes and local resolutions and ordinances.
6. The examination, review, analysis and policy setting of the county's various insurance plans and policies. Review personnel policy issues including, but not limited to, the examination and review of employee salaries and job descriptions. Setting policy on deferred compensation and employee development programs offered in the county.
7. The examination, review, analysis and recommendation to the County Board of all matters dealing with general county policy issues and amendments to the County Board Rules.
8. To request opinions from the State's Attorney's Office. A request for a written opinion from the State's Attorney's Office shall be submitted in writing and shall set forth the specific issue of concern. These items shall be listed on the agenda under Requests for State's Attorney's Opinion until a written opinion is received.
9. In cooperation with the County Executive's office, work to advance the diversity efforts that are determined by the county stakeholders. This may include working with outside consultants to accomplish defined tasks.
10. Guide the County Board's policymaking efforts to continue progress in the area of diversity, inclusion and equity issues, improving minority participation in future contracting efforts, and related work that can measurably improve the diversity of county governmental functions.
11. All other matters not specifically assigned to other committees of the Board.
(b) Finance. This committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. Making recommendations concerning county fiscal policies and financial administration.
2. Establishing and reviewing County Board budget priorities.
3. The examination, review, analysis, and where appropriate the modification of the annual budget proposed by the County Executive.
4. The preparation of the annual appropriation and levy ordinances for the county.
5. The review of all internal and external audits of all county departments and the offices of all elected county officials.
6. The review and disposition of grant requests.
7. Review and approve all county indebtedness and approve of any short-term or long-term borrowings.
8. The appropriation of salaries of all county employees, appointed officials, and officeholders.
9. The review of all matters of taxation and finance for the purpose of generating new revenue for the county.
10. This Committee shall also receive monthly financial reports from the County Executive's Office containing both monthly and year-to-date income statements, revenue projections, expense statements and projections and projected budget surpluses and/or shortfalls. The Committee shall include a summary statement of the County Executive's report in its report to the Executive Committee.
11. Making recommendations to the Executive Committee. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(c) Public Works & Transportation. This Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. Recommending to the County Board the prioritization of proposed public works and transportation projects, the development and expansion of current vendor list, the review and policy-setting of planning, acquisition, construction, improvement, demolitions, modification, and maintenance of Will County's infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, right- of-ways, water systems, cable systems and resource recovery systems.
2. In conjunction with the Land Use & Development Committee, this Committee shall be responsible for oversight and review of infrastructure to insure adequate road access and the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the county.
3. Making recommendations to the Executive Committee. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(d) Public Health & Public Safety. This Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. The examination, review, analysis and policy setting of the county's health, and public welfare needs.
2. To act as the liaison between the County Board and the Board of Health and the Health Department Administration.
3. Identifying the changing needs of Will County's aging and disabled population.
4. Oversight of the EMA (Emergency Management Agency), Animal Control Department, and all community programs within the county.
5. The examination, review, analysis, recommendation and policy setting for the judicial and law enforcement needs of the county (excepting the construction or expansion of facilities), including but not limited to the needs of the Circuit Court, the Jury Commission, the State's Attorney, the Sheriff, the Coroner, the Circuit Court Clerk, the Public Defender, the Adult and Juvenile Detention Facilities, and the Probation Department.
6. Making recommendations to the Executive Committee. (55 ILCS 5/1004)
(e) Land Use & Development. This Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. Examination, review, analysis and policy setting of the Will County Land Resource Management Plan, including landfills and wetlands as related to the land resource management plan, as well as the land use needs and requirements of the county.
2. Review, adoption, and modification to the county's land use plans, zoning ordinances, and subdivision ordinances, construction guidelines and building codes and standards, stormwater regulation policy and associated fees.
3. Policy and associated fees for the county's Geographic Information System (GIS).
4. All proposals for changes to or modifications involving agricultural lands or flood plains.
5. In conjunction with the Public Works & Transportation Committee, provide oversight and review of infrastructure to insure the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the county.
6. Making recommendations to the Executive Committee. (55 ILCS 5/1004)
(f) Legislative. This Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. Examination, review and coordination of the state and federal legislative needs of the county. Such needs shall include, but are not limited to, recommendations for legislation transmitted from any standing committee, any Board member(s) or an elected county official or department head to the Executive Committee.
2. Communication liaison with federal and state county legislators, for legislative and grant assistance and to foster better intergovernmental cooperation between all levels of government. Where time is of the essence and the Legislative Committee is unable to meet then the Legislative Committee Chair shall consult with leadership for purposes of determining the legislative message to be conveyed.
3. Bring current proposed legislation to the committee for discussion and review.
4. Develop the annual Federal and State Legislative Agendas in consultation with the appropriate lobbyist to be approved at the November County Board Meeting for the following year.
5. Making recommendations to the Executive Committee. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(g) Capital Improvements and IT. This Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. Making recommendations to the County Board on matters dealing with accommodating the space needs of Will County Government including all branches of government and all constitutional officers for both the long and short term.
2. Review and analysis of lease options for the county.
3. Provide oversite, planning and recommendations on other matters dealing with capital improvements, including, but not limited to, communications, infrastructure matters, and projects of benefit to the citizens of Will County.
4. Making recommendations to the Executive Committee. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(h) Landfill Committee. This Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. Provide policy guidance and determinations related to solid waste planning, oversight and compliance, in conjunction and cooperation with the State’s Attorney and those county departments charged with the responsibility for solid waste planning, oversight and compliance, as well as in conjunction with any special committee appointed in accordance with federal or state statutes, rules and regulations, and the siting of regional pollution control facilities.
2. Monitoring all aspects of administration and enforcement of the County's Solid Waste Management Plan, and shall conduct those public hearings required by statute, rule, regulation or ordinance (except as otherwise may be determined by the County Board), and shall make recommendations to the Board for the expenditure of county revenues and funds which have been allocated for solid waste environmental matters and other pollution control facility matters. Shall provide oversight and review of proposed uses of all county owned property surrounding the Prairie View county landfill including the RNG facility. Shall review policy considerations and recommendations for the future of the Prairie View county landfill. Nothing in these rules shall supersede specific lawful statutory assignments of authority.
3. On an annual basis, the Committee shall review the Auditor's report concerning the Prairie View Landfill as well as the status of any other landfills and transfer stations located within the county.
4. Making recommendations to the Executive Committee. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(4) Ad-hoc committees shall be established by the County Board Chair with the concurrence of the Executive Committee. Appointments to ad-hoc committees shall follow the procedures for standing committees as defined in division (B) of this section. Every ad-hoc committee shall consist of a sufficient number of members to accomplish the specific purpose or purposes for which it was created. The Executive Committee shall dissolve the ad-hoc committee after its purpose is accomplished. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(5) The County Board may meet as a "Committee of the Whole" by the call of the County Board Chair, or an affirmative vote of a majority of the Executive Committee, or upon the affirmative vote of 10 County Board members at a regular meeting of the County Board, or upon a written request setting forth the items for discussion and signed by 10 members of the County Board. The time, place, and agenda for any meeting of the "Committee of the Whole" shall be set by the County Board Chair consistent with the provisions of this division and rules and published and posted in accordance with Illinois law. (55 ILCS 5/5-1004)
(E) Powers of committees.
(1) The various elected officials and department heads, in addition to the County Board staff, shall provide such assistance, information and support to the standing committees and to the Board as a whole, as may be required, by said committees or by the Board. Information required by the Board or any of its standing committees shall be provided upon request of any Board member or Board staff.
(2) The staffing for the standing committees shall be provided by the County Board staff and access to the Executive Committee agenda shall be through the County Board staff.
(3) All County Board Committees, in the exercise of their legislative functions and powers, shall have the right to summon employees and to review those documents and records necessary or helpful in the exercise of such responsibilities. Willful failure to respond to a request issued to a county employee or appointed department head by a Board Committee shall be sufficient cause to authorize the committee to apply to the Board for a resolution of notification to the appropriate county officer (elected official) of the failure of his or her employee/employees to appear, and to request an immediate redress of said grievance.
(F) Written minutes. All committees shall keep written minutes and all such forms of minutes as required by law. Minute books for every committee shall be kept in the County Board Office. Administrative services shall be provided by the County Board staff. Audio recordings of regular meetings shall be disposed of once the meeting minutes have been approved. The audio recording of closed meetings shall be disposed of no less than 18 months after completion of the meeting recorded, but only after the approval of the minutes of the closed meeting and the approval of the destruction of the audio recording. (5 ILCS 120/2.06)
(1980 Code, § 30.02) (Ord. adopted 12-3-1990; Ord. adopted 12-17-1992; Ord. adopted 12-5-1994; Ord. adopted 12-2-1996; Ord. adopted 12-4-2000; Ord. adopted 12-20-2001; Res. 02-555, passed 12-2-2002; Res. 06-503, passed 12-4-2006; Res. 08-480, passed 12-1-2008; Res. 10-406, passed 12-6-2010; Res. 12-378, passed 12-3-2012; Ord. 23-312, passed 9-21-2023)