An Ordinance Amending Chapter 30 of the Village Code of Ordinances-Village Board of Trustees (Meeting Procedures)
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WHEREAS, a periodic review of the ordinances of the Village of Romeoville has indicated that certain revisions to the meeting procedures used by the Village Board of Trustees for the conduct of its business will facilitate the efficient operation and conduct of Village Board meetings for their intended purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Romeoville is a home rule municipality under the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the Village to enact the amendments to Chapter 30 of the Village Code of Ordinances as more fully hereinafter set forth and in the exercise of the Village’s home rule authority.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE VILLAGE OF ROMEOVILLE, WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; THAT:
SECTION 1: RECITALS. The foregoing recitals are hereby incorporated into this Ordinance as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2: Amendment to Section 30.03 of the Village Code of Ordinances. All those heretofore adopted Village ordinances codified as and for Section 30.03(B) of the Village Code of Ordinances shall hereby be revised to read as follows:
(B) Meeting Agenda Order
At the hour appointed for the meeting, the Clerk, (or someone appointed to act in his absence) shall proceed to call the roll of members, marking the absentees and announcing whether a quorum is present. On the appearance of a quorum the Board shall be called to order, the President taking the chair, if present. The Board shall appoint a temporary replacement, if he should be absent. The Board shall then proceed to the business before it, which shall be conducted in the order following:
Agenda
Regular Meeting
Board of Trustees
Village of Romeoville
1. CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call
2. POSTING OF COLORS, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
4. PRESENTATIONS
5. CONSENT AGENDA
6. MAYOR’S REPORT
7. CLERK’S REPORT
8. VILLAGE MANAGER’S REPORT
9. NEW BUSINESS
10. BOARD COMMENTS (including Commission, Committee Liaison Reports)
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
12. ADJOURNMENT
SECTION 3: Amendment to Appendix B to Chapter 30 of the Village Code of Ordinances. All those heretofore adopted Village ordinances codified as and for Appendix B to Chapter 30 of the Village Code of Ordinances shall hereby be revised to read as follows:
Appendix B: Rules of Procedure for "Public Comment" Portions of Regular Village Board Agendas
(1) Registration of Petitions from the Public Participants. Anyone who wishes to speak or comment during the Public Comment portion of a regular Village Board meeting must sign-in prior to the commencement of the meeting on the sign-up cards or sheets available at the front door of the Village Board room. Speakers or those desiring to comment shall provide their names, and indicate the topic or topics that they desire to address.
(2) Unless otherwise approved by a motion adopted by a majority vote of the Village Board, speakers and persons desiring to comment during the Public Comment portion of a regular Village Board meeting shall limit their remarks and comments to no more than three minutes in length. Remarks and comments shall be limited to matters appearing on the meeting agenda or matters otherwise within the jurisdiction and legal authority of the Village. Prior to commencing their remarks and comments, speakers and those desiring to comment shall wait to be recognized by the Village President, and shall identify themselves by name. The permitted duration of remarks and comments and of the Public Comment period shall be determined by the use of a timer or stopwatch operated by a member of the village staff in attendance at the meeting, and the speaker or person desiring to comment shall promptly conclude his or her remarks and vacate the podium upon the expiration of the allotted time as determined by the timer or stopwatch in use.
(3) The Village President may take such actions as are required to maintain order and civility during the Public Comment portion of the regular Village Board meeting. Discourtesy or disorderly conduct shall be deemed a breach of order, and such misconduct shall be dealt with as appropriate, including but not limited to expulsion from the meeting. Speakers and persons presenting comments shall refrain from colloquy or debate with members of the audience. Likewise, all members of the audience not then recognized by the Village President as a speaker or person desiring to comment shall likewise refrain from colloquy, debate or exclamation until such time as they may be so recognized.
(4) Nothing herein shall restrict the opportunity of the Village President and Trustees to comment or remark after the conclusion of any comments or remarks made by a person recognized to speak or comment during the Public Comment portion of a regular Village Board meeting, but neither the Village President nor the Village Trustees shall be under any obligation to so comment or remark.
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(5) Nothing herein shall limit the ability of the Village President and Village Board of Trustees to invite and recognize persons to address the Village Board during other portions of any workshop or regular Village Board meeting, but such invitation and recognition shall be at the discretion of the Village President and Village Board of Trustees.
(6) Nothing herein shall limit the ability of the Village President and Village Board of Trustees to adjourn a given Board meeting to another date and time in the event that the amount and length of public comment unduly delays the conduct of Village business at the meeting.
SECTION 4: Amendment to Section 30.03 of the Village Code of Ordinances. All those heretofore adopted Village ordinances codified as and for Section 30.03 of the Village Code of Ordinances shall hereby be revised to include the following text, to be codified as and for a new Section 30.03(D):
(D) Proclamation Policy
From time to time, the Mayor may make proclamations regarding matters of concern to the Village and its residents, for consideration and acceptance by the Village Board. Proclamations are ceremonial and commemorative in nature and do not have the legal force or effect of other legislative actions of the Village, such as ordinances or resolutions, and do not constitute the endorsement by the Mayor or Village of the substance expressed within. Accordingly, proclamations are typically issued for reasons consistent with their intended ceremonial purposes, including but not necessarily limited to recognition of extraordinary achievement, supporting actions that improve the quality of life within the Village of Romeoville, raising public awareness of issues directly affecting the Village and its residents, expressing appreciation for monetary donations, in-kind contributions, cultural contributions and volunteer efforts made within the Village, and recognition of a time period to commemorate achievements or contributions by groups or organizations located within or benefiting the Village and its residents. In light of the intended ceremonial and commemorative purpose of Village proclamations, the Village will typically not entertain requests for proclamations or issue proclamations on matters outside the scope of its jurisdiction or legal authority or for purely commercial purposes.
Parties requesting a Village proclamation consistent with the preceding standards must provide a proposed draft proclamation to the Mayor’s office at least one month in advance of the desired proclamation date, which should consist of at least six recitals or “Whereas” clauses. Appropriate citations to authority shall be provided for all factual or statistical assertions contained within a proposed proclamation. The Village reserves the right to edit any and all requested proclamations, and to decline any requested proclamation, at its discretion. Without limiting the foregoing, no more than one requested proclamation will be approved by the Village during any given year on the same matter, and no more than one requested proclamation from any requesting party will be approved during any given year. Requests for proclamations from organizations lacking any physical presence in the State of Illinois will not be honored. The Mayor and Board may from time to time reasonably limit the number of proclamations that may be considered at any given meeting.
SECTION 5: SEVERABILITY. That the various provisions of this Ordinance are to be considered severable and if any part or portion of this Ordinance shall be held invalid by any Court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6: CONFLICTS. All prior Ordinances and Resolutions, or parts thereof in conflict or inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby expressly repealed only to the extent of such conflict or inconsistency.
SECTION 7: EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval and publication in pamphlet form as provided by law.