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Trustees debate allowing board members on advisory committees; chair outreach and a subcommittee proposed
Summary
Trustees spent an extended discussion weighing whether trustees should serve as voting committee members on volunteer advisory committees, with concerns about volunteer intimidation, statutory limits, and proposals to form a research subcommittee and to meet with committee chairs.
The Campton Hills Board of Trustees spent a lengthy portion of its June 17 meeting debating proposed changes to village committee practice that would increase trustee participation on volunteer advisory committees. Some trustees said trustees should be able to sit on committees to participate in deliberations; others warned adding trustees could intimidate volunteers and that public comment does not equal participation in committee debate.
Trustee Frank Benetti and others said trustees commonly serve on committees in other municipalities and argued trustee participation would improve efficiency and help trustees avoid being surprised by committee recommendations. Trustee Janet and Trustee Therese contended that trustees already can participate through public comment, cautioned that trustees serving on committees could displace skilled citizen volunteers, and raised questions about statutory authority and local ordinance scope.
Several trustees and the village president proposed a compromise: form a small trustee subcommittee to research how peer municipalities structure trustee participation, consult committee chairs directly, and return recommendations. The president suggested a two-person working group report back before the fall budget cycle so the board can decide whether to modify committee rules. Multiple trustees said they prefer to hear committee chairs before making changes and some reported they had already received calls from volunteers who said they might leave if trustees were placed on committees.
No ordinance was changed at the June 17 meeting. The board discussed existing language in the village code for the finance committee that allows up to one trustee to serve on that particular committee and considered whether similar language should be added for other committees. The board agreed to gather more information and to engage chairs of the affected committees before taking formal action.
