R-20-13VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
RESOLUTION NO. 2020- R-20-13
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING 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's
declared a State of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic; 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 ("Executive Order'; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 2.06(8) 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 desires to adopt a supplemental rule for public
comment at such virtual meetings ("Supplemental Rule'; 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 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: ADOPTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL RULE. In accordance
with Section 2.06(g) of the Act, the Village Board hereby adopts the following Supplemental
Rule for public comments at virtual public meetings of the Village Board and all subsidiary
Village Boards, committees, and commissions:
"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, 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."
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 City Council, the
Supplemental Rule will control until such time as the emergency that necessitated virtual
meetings has ended. 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.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
AYES: Benton, Jester, Oppenheim, Seiden, Shapiro, Struthers
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
PASSED: June 6, 2020
APPROVED: June 7, 2020
RESOLUTION NO: R-20-13
Harriet Rosenthal, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kent 9. Street, Village Clerk