Committee endorses change to allow single final reading for ordinances

The Administration Finance Committee recommended approval Monday of Ordinance 42-25, which would amend Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 2-76 to permit ordinances to be considered for final passage after one reading rather than the current two-reading process. Kevin, a staff member who presented the report, said the existing two-reading rule was set when the village held weekly board meetings and that the current, less-frequent meeting schedule lengthens the ordinance timeline. “Research has shown that other municipalities allow ordinances to be considered for passage once rather than twice,” Kevin said. He added the change “can streamline the village board approval process.” The draft ordinance preserves committee review, Kevin said, and adds a subsection allowing any member of the corporate authority to request that an ordinance be held over to a subsequent meeting for additional consideration. Kevin told the committee, “Ordinances must still go through their appropriate committees like this one prior to approval by the board, thereby maintaining opportunities for public discourse and comment.” Trustee Stromberg moved the committee recommendation and Mister Vitale seconded. The committee chair, Trustee Wilson, announced the ordinance will go to the October 6 village board meeting with a positive recommendation from the committee. No committee member recorded objections during the voice vote at the meeting.