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 sit on the other side of the dais. “By residents not being able to say or do anything about what has been passed until after city council has made their vote is a form of limiting free speech,” Garcia said, describing her view that moving open forum to the end of meetings would turn public comment into “venting” rather than a chance to influence council decisions.

Other longtime and new residents raised similar points. Matt Williams said the proposal “is not indicative of what the residents of Berwyn want,” arguing that placing public comment at the end of meetings treats resident input as an interruption. Stephanie Nance, who has organized and testified on council business before, cited Robert’s Rules of Order and urged the mayor and aldermen to avoid back-and-forth exchanges during public comment.

Speakers described ways in which early public forum has affected city decisions in the past, including successful resident interventions on animal shelter policy and expanded bilingual communications. One resident, Luce Chavez, recalled how public comment helped prompt city action on Spanish-language communications and other priorities.

Council response and next steps: After the public-comment period, Mayor Lovero said he would remove the item from tonight’s agenda and promised to “rework it” taking into account concerns voiced by residents. Alderman Lennon suggested that, when reworked, the ordinance be brought to the Committee of the Whole for discussion so the council could vet changes in committee before a final vote.

Votes at a glance (items from this meeting): - F3 — Proposed amendment to public-comment rules (moved to end of meeting; expanded chair authority): Pulled from the agenda by the mayor; no vote taken. (See provenance below.) - F4 — Proclamation recognizing soprano Sandra Radvinovsky: Considered informational; motion carried by voice vote. (Proclamation text presented by mayor; guest acknowledged.) - C1 — Committee of the Whole and regular meeting minutes of 03/25/2025: Approved (motion carried by voice vote). - E1 — Berwyn Development Corporation request to close Clinton Avenue for Berwyn Shops grand opening (05/02/2025): Approved (motion carried by voice vote). - E2/E3 — BDC vacancy and quarterly reports: Accepted as informational (motions carried by voice votes). - F1 — Appointment of Aaron M. Dumfey to the Auxiliary Review Board to complete term through 04/25/2025 and take oath: Concurred; oath administered. - F2 — Ordinance implementing a municipal grocery retailer’s occupation tax and municipal grocery service occupation tax: Motion carried on roll call (7 ayes; ordinance placed on its way to passage; ordinance number not specified in the record). - G1 — Clerk’s request to destroy audio recordings of certain closed sessions: Concurred. - G2 — Clerk’s recommendations on four requests for handicapped parking: Denied as recommended. - I1/I2 — Acceptance of communications from the Fire & Police Commission and swearing in of two probationary police officers (Jonathan Sandoval and Stephen Ariza) with effective start date 04/09/2025: Accepted; oaths administered. - J1 — Amendment to the welcoming-city ordinance (Chapter 620 sections noted in transcript): Adopted on roll call (7 ayes; ordinance placed on its way to passage). - J2 — Authorization to purchase a Pierce Saber fire engine via HGAC with financing through PNC Equipment Finance (financing described in meeting): Motion carried on roll call (7 ayes); total cost as read aloud in meeting and financing terms included in clerk’s communication (see clarifying details). - J3 — Authorization to contact the Fire & Police Commission to hire the next three eligible probationary firefighter/paramedics: Approved. - J4 — Approval of fiduciary insurance policies for police and fire pension funds (ULLICO/EULICO as read): Approved on roll call (7 ayes).

What the transcript shows and does not show: The council did not take a vote on the proposed public-comment ordinance (F3) because the mayor pulled it after public testimony. The meeting record includes roll-call votes and oaths for appointments and ordinances listed above; where an ordinance or resolution number was not read aloud, the record says “not specified.”

Community context: Speakers repeatedly described the change as limiting to residents across wards and demographic groups, including Spanish speakers, seniors, veterans, business owners and parents. Several speakers urged the council to preserve the chance for residents to speak before votes, citing past instances where public comment influenced council decisions.

Documents and next steps: Mayor Lovero said he would rework the ordinance and return it later; an alderman requested the revised proposal be referred to the Committee of the Whole for discussion before a subsequent vote.