Title
Agenda Management and Engagement of Legal Services - Discussion Only Item
History
Summary
At the October 21, 2019 Village Board meeting, a Village Trustee requested that a matter be placed on the next agenda regarding agenda management as well as who can authorize the engagement of legal services utilizing Village funds.
To address agenda management and legal engagement concerns, the following provisions can be incorporated into the Village Code.
(1) Board of Trustees Agenda Initiatives - Board of Trustee initiatives could be placed on the Board agenda after a Trustee completes an Agenda Initiative form. Village/Legal staff time would be restricted until after at least three Trustees vote to move it forward.
(2) Previously Deliberated Items - Items previously defeated by the Board of Trustees would not be able to be placed on a Board of Trustees Agenda for a period of one (1) year.
a. Committee Agenda Initiatives - In cases where there is disagreement as to whether an item placed on a committee agenda is pertinent to that particular committee, the committee chairperson or any committee member may object. Objection will be forwarded to the Village President who will: 1) affirm that the matter can be deliberated at said committee, 2) transfer the matter to a more relevant committee, or 3) refer the matter as a Board of Trustees Agenda Initiative request.
b. The above Committee Agenda Initiative process is based on maintaining the current Village Committee structure. As an alternative, the Village Board may opt to replace the current committee structure with a Committee of the Whole process.
Background
Although there are no specific provisions in the Illinois Municipal Code or the Open Meetings Act that address who is responsible for setting meeting agendas, the Illinois Municipal Code does state the Village Board shall “determine its own rules of proceeding.” See 65 ILCS 5/3.1-40-15. While there are many policy implications for the Village Boar...
Click here for full text