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Proposal to add voting citizen members to standing committees fails in committee
Summary
A proposal to amend the municipal code to include a voting citizen member on each standing committee failed in the General Government and Finance Committee; debate highlighted concerns about accountability, liability and elected representation.
The General Government and Finance Committee voted against forwarding an ordinance that would have added a voting citizen member to each of the village’s standing committees (General Government, Public Safety, Public Works). The motion failed 2–1 and will go to the Village Board without a committee recommendation.
Nut graf: Supporters said adding citizen members could broaden expertise and community input on committees; opponents said voting non-elected members would dilute accountability and create legal and practical risks.
Details and debate: Staff explained the proposed code changes would formally set four trustees on each standing committee, add one citizen member per committee and require quorum to be met by three trustees, ensuring citizen members could not make a trustee quorum. The draft also prohibits trustee fill-ins at standing committee meetings and excludes citizen members from voting on authorizations of expenditure under the village’s purchasing policy (items roughly at or above $25,000).
Opponents, who spoke strongly against the change, argued elected officials should retain decision-making authority. A trustee said, “People get elected for a reason… I have a problem with a standing committee having a citizen on there with voting capability,” and called the proposal “a terrible idea.” Another trustee raised potential litigation and accountability concerns.
Supporters noted other municipalities have provisions allowing citizen members and that citizen expertise (for example, accountants or engineers) could help committee deliberations. One trustee said the committees should be a place to “tap into the talent within this community.”
Outcome and next steps: The motion to amend section 2.09 of the municipal code to add citizen members failed in committee 2–1. The item will proceed to the Village Board without a positive committee recommendation.
Ending: The committee vote concluded the discussion for committee-level action; the Village Board will consider the ordinance at its meeting later that evening.
