R-20-16VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
RESOLUTION NO. 2020- R-20-16
A RESOLUTION AMENDING A SUPPLEMENTAL RULE CONCERNING PUBLIC
COMMENTS DURING VIRTUAL MEETINGS OF THE VILLAGE BOARD AND OTHER
VILLAGE BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
WHEREAS, Section 2.06(g) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.
(`Act'), requires the Village to allow any member of the public to address the Village Board,
and other "public bodies" (as that term is defined in the Act), at public meetings, in
accordance with rules to be adopted by the public bodies; and
WHEREAS, the Village has previously adopted rules for public comment for all
Village public bodies, in accordance with Section 2.06(8) of the Act; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the Governor of the State of Illinois ("Governor'l
declared a State of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which state of emergency
was renewed on May 29, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order No. 2020-07,
suspending certain provisions of the Act concerning in-person attendance by members of the
public body at public meetings, which Executive Order was extended pursuant to Executive
Order 2020-39 (`Executive Order'); and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 2.06(g) of the Act, and in order to preserve the
public right to address the Village Board and other Village public bodies during the duration
of the Executive Order and otherwise at virtual public meetings of the Village Board and
other public bodies, the Village Board adopted a supplemental rule for public comment at
such virtual meetings pursuant to Resolution 2020-_R-20-13_ (`Supplemental Rule'); and
WHEREAS, the Village Board desires to modify the Supplemental Rule to add
additional opportunities for the public to provide public comment and Village Board
meetings; and
WHEREAS, the Village Board has determined that it will serve and be in the best
interest of the Village and its residents to adopt an amendment to the Supplemental Rule;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD,
LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS, as follows:
SECTION ONE: RECITALS. The foregoing recitals are incorporated into, and
made a part of, this Resolution as findings of the Village Board.
SECTION TWO: AMENDMENT OF SUPPLEMENTAL RULE. In accordance
with Section 2.06(g) of the Act, the Village Board hereby amends the Supplemental Rule for
public comments at virtual public meetings of the Village Board and all subsidiary Village
Boards, committees, and commissions as follows:
"For all meetings of the Village Board or any subsidiary board,
committee, or commission of the Village conducted through telephone or
virtual means, pursuant to Executive Order of the Governor of the State of
Illinois or the Open Meetings Act, members of the public may address the
public body by sending the Village Clerk (or other Village representative
designated in the agenda posted for such meeting) a written statement to be
read aloud at the meeting. In order for a written statement to be read as a
public comment at a virtual meeting, the statement must be:
(1) Typed or written legibly;
(2) No more than 200 words in length;
(3) Free of any abusive or obscene language; and
(4) Received by the Village Clerk or designated representative at
the e-mail address set forth in the agenda posted for such meeting, prior to the
conclusion of such meeting.
Statements that do not adhere to the requirements for virtual public
comments will be rejected, with timely notice of the basis for the rejection to
the commenter.
The Village Clerk or designated representative will compile all properly
submitted virtual public comments, and when directed to do so by the Mayor
or presiding officer of the meeting, read each comment aloud before the public
body, to include the commenters name and address, if provided.
In addition, members of the public may provide oral comments by
telephone or web -based video conference during all meetings of the VLllage
Board or any subsidiary board committee or commission of the Village
conducted through telephone or virtual means during the time designated for
public comment or during the consideration of items on the agenda provided
that such comments do not exceed three minutes in d oration "
This amendment to the Supplemental Rule adopted pursuant to this Section Two is a
supplement to, and not a replacement or modification of, any other rule adopted by the
Village Board or any subsidiary board, committee, or commission concerning public comment
at public meetings. To the extent that the Supplemental Rule conflicts with any other rule of
the Village Board, the Supplemental Rule will control until such time as the emergency that
necessitated virtual meetings has ended. The Amendment to the Supplemental Rule hereby
applies to all subsidiary boards, committees, and commissions unless and until such boards,
committees, and commissions adopt their own rules for public comment at virtual meetings
in accordance with Section 2.06(g) of the Act.
SECTION THREE: EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution will be in full force and
effect from and after its passage, approval, and publication in the manner provided by law.
AYES: Benton, Jester, Oppenheim, Seiden, Shapiro, Struthers
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
PASSED: June 15, 2020
APPROVED: June 16, 2020
RESOLUTION NO: R-20-16
Harriet Rosenthal, Mayor
ATT ST:
Kent S. itreet, Village Clerk