Berwyn council pulls proposed changes to public-comment rules after hours of public objection

Berwyn City Council members removed a proposed amendment to the council rules that would have moved the city’s open forum to the end of meetings and expanded the chair’s authority after a long series of public comments opposing the change.

The proposal, listed as agenda item F3, was pulled from tonight’s meeting by Mayor Robert J. Lovero, who said he would rework the ordinance and bring it back later. The mayor told the chamber, “I’m gonna pull F3 from the agenda for this evening so there will be no vote on it. And I will do my best to rework it so that it involves the concerns of what we’ve heard tonight.”

Why it matters: dozens of residents, community organizers and at least one incoming city official said the change would curtail public participation and remove the opportunity for residents to speak before council votes. Speakers said the alteration would place residents “on the sidelines” and limit opportunities to influence decisions that affect neighborhoods, businesses and services in Berwyn.

Multiple residents said the proposal would put too much discretion in the mayor’s office. Jamie Franklin, who identified himself as a First Ward resident and lawyer, warned that the revision “gives [the mayor] the power to decide who will speak, to recognize who to speak, to cut off speakers, to consolidate speakers when he thinks they’re going to speak on the same issue, and even to fine and arrest a speaker if he thinks they’re being disruptive.” Franklin added that the change could invite legal challenges.

Letty Garcia, the Berwyn clerk-elect, spoke as someone who said she will soon…