This topic is intended for Village President Mark Pfefferman in hopes of clarifying how and when the public participates in Village policy discussions.

Thank you in advance for your educating me and other residents of our community about this topic.

VP Pfefferman: Can you describe how and when the Village invites and encourages the public to participate in the dialogue about topics pertaining to Village government policy?

Perhaps the following questions will help guide your answers:

- when is it appropriate to address the board at the workshop or official board meeting and what type of topics and/or concerns (whether related or unrelated to policy topics) are best suited for workshop or official board meetings

- when can the public comment to the board (during workshops and/or official board meetings)

- what type of topics are typically held in executive session which are closed to public comment

- does the Village limit public comment to one segment of the board meeting

- is there a time restriction placed on public comment (if so, what is it and what is reasonable?)

Hello!

I answered this question privately and then Ted was kind enough to inform me that it had been asked on the great GEBB!

Please see the answers below. Here's to a great weekend!

Mark

VP Pfefferman: Can you describe how and when the Village invites and encourages the public to participate in the dialogue about topics pertaining to Village government policy?

The village invites public comment in many ways. At the beginning of each board meeting, a statement is read which states that input from the public is valued, welcomed and encouraged. (Please see that statement below.) In addition, the village’s website offers a 24/7 tool for public comment, and the village’s calendar and newsletter often encourage public comment. In addition to each and every board meeting, each and every commission meeting has a specific agenda item for public comment. All elected officials, commissioners and village team members are open to public comment and feedback.

It is interesting to note, and often overlooked, that the village commissions and board are made up of volunteer members from the public, totaling about 100 individuals. The public is well-represented at every meeting.

Perhaps the following questions will help guide your answers:

- when is it appropriate to address the board at the workshop or official board meeting and what type of topics and/or concerns (whether related or unrelated to policy topics) are best suited for workshop or official board meetings

There are three ways in which the public may address the board during its meetings.

First, at each village board meeting or workshop, one of the first agenda items is “public participation/comments.” These times are largely for comments unrelated to a specific agenda item before the board that evening – in other words, any comment on any topic is welcome at these times.

Second, after each agenda item is presented, the board members get to ask the presenter any questions they may have. The audience is then asked for any questions or comments about the item.

Finally, the board and the public are asked near the end of the meeting if there is any other business to come before the board.

- when can the public comment to the board (during workshops and/or official board meetings)

Please see the answer above. In short, the public may comment at the beginning and end of each meeting on any topic, and during the meeting on the specific agenda item being discussed. (Pretty much all the time!)

- does the Village limit public comment to one segment of the board meeting

No, please see the answer above.

- what type of topics are typically held in executive session which are closed to public comment

Typical executive session items, by statute, are personnel items, litigation matters, or property acquisition and/or disposal actions.

- is there a time restriction placed on public comment (if so, what is it and what is reasonable?)

The public is asked to limit their remarks to three minutes, depending on how many members of the public are in attendance that evening. The public requests the board to run meetings efficiently with respect for time. That being said, the board has shown significant flexibility with the “three minute rule” in very many instances.

Thank you!

Thank you GELife! I hope this helps.

You may also be interested in another new tradition that has been started to reflect Glen Ellyn’s great volunteerism. A member of the public is invited to lead the pledge of allegiance at every formal board meeting and then talk for two or three minutes about her/his organization, exposing the organization and/or its upcoming event to the audience gathered in the boardroom and on television.

P.S.

Statement read at the beginning of every village board meeting:

Good evening. Welcome to the Glen Ellyn Village board meeting for Month, Day, Year. Thank you for being here or watching on television.

The village board is made of up elected volunteers who set the strategic direction and policy for the village. The taxpayers of the village employ about a hundred full time associates and a village attorney to run the day to day operation of Glen Ellyn. These are our experts on operations and code.

Agendas may be found in your seats or online at glenellyn.org.

The goal of each vote is to reach a direction or decision to improve the situation before the board and therefore the Village of Glen Ellyn

The public’s input is always valued. For logistical purposes, comments may be limited to a length of three minutes.

The village management team prepares a lot of written material on many of the topics before us and the board comes to the meeting having read that material. In addition, most of these topics have been discussed at a board workshop held prior to this meeting. As a result, the board may not have any comments on a particular item. This is quite acceptable.

To proceed most efficiently, we will employ the following meeting Ground Rules:

· Glen Ellyn is special place. Leading communities deserve and require respectful interaction. Our meetings will be governed in this manner.

· All points of view are welcome and encouraged

· The focus of discussion should be on issues, processes and concerns and not on specific people or personalities.

· Meetings will be run efficiently with respect for time

· The Village embraces the six pillars of character and these meetings will strive to lead by their example

The six pillars of character are:

Trustworthiness
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Citizenship

P.P.S. Please forgive any typos or grammar mistakes. Nika's influence and a compressed response time may have resulted in poor proofing. Thank you!

President Pfefferman's number is right, Fan. Someone is bound to replace the idiot that is leaving that commission....bringing the number back up.

I would just like to add that as a resident who has spoken at many meetings, Pres. Pfefferman has also instituted a great improvement in the proceedings: He asks the Board if they have any questions for the resident after they have spoken but before they sit down.

This actually opens a dialog between resident and Board members so that it does not feel like you stand up, speak your mind and sit without a response. I have witnessed this in action on several occasions, especially the last Board meeting when several residents spoke about the SSAs. Huge difference from pre-Pfefferman meetings to current.