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Council debates EAC size and eligibility; decides to keep current resolution in place
Summary
Council discussed Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) vacancies, membership limits and residency requirements. After legal clarification that code currently requires village residents and that resolution lists “up to seven” members, council left the structure unchanged and to continue advertising vacancies.
Councilmembers discussed whether to reduce the Environmental Advisory Committee’s membership or open seats to nonresidents and ultimately decided to keep the current resolution and continue advertising vacancies.
Jeremy, staff, explained that the May memo from EAC chair Mr. Fries asked that vacancies continue to be advertised and suggested not changing the committee’s composition. Councilmembers expressed two points of view: several favored keeping the committee size and residency requirements, saying the EAC has reliably reached quorum and benefits from engaged local volunteers; others suggested that, if vacancies persisted, the council could consider reducing the committee by attrition.
Village legal counsel clarified the governing code: board members must be village residents and registered voters except for pension boards; virtual attendance is limited to two occurrences in a 12‑month period; and the existing resolution establishes up to seven members, so the council would not need to amend the resolution to operate with fewer members during attrition.
“Your code requires all board members to be village residents and registered voters except for the pension boards,” the village attorney said, noting that opening seats to nonresidents would require a code amendment (ordinance) before the change could take effect.
Councilmembers asked about quorum implications if membership were reduced (a five‑member board would require three members for a quorum) and discussed outreach options to recruit volunteers, including contacting local colleges for subject matter expertise. Several councilmembers said they preferred keeping membership restricted to village residents at this time and continuing to advertise the vacancy. No formal change to the resolution or ordinance was made.
The council’s consensus at the workshop was to continue current practice, keep advertising for the vacant seat, and revisit the issue if filling vacancies becomes a persistent problem.
