Council declines to rescind its advice and consent for planning commission appointment after public protest

The Freeport City Council debated a motion to rescind its prior advice and consent for the mayor's appointment of Dustin Wilkinson to the planning commission, but the motion failed.

Public comment included several speakers who asked for review of the appointment process. Rhonda Scott urged the council to reconsider how appointments are handled, saying she had served on the planning commission and raised concerns about the mayor’s choice. Former planning commission member Joshua Atkinson spoke at the meeting to describe how his reappointment was handled and said he would have resigned if asked; he also urged council to “fix it once and for all.” Resident Rhonda Scott urged removal of the mayor’s appointee, citing publicly available criminal records she said made the appointee unsuitable for the commission.

City Attorney Tony Zito explained the legal framework: the mayor makes appointments and council provides advice and consent. If a term expires without reappointment the incumbent may serve as a holdover until a successor is appointed. Zito also noted legal and procedural limits on retroactive rescission when officials have already acted in their appointed role.

Alderman Stacy moved to rescind the council’s advice and consent for the appointment of Dustin Wilkinson; Alderman Monroe seconded the motion. The council took a roll-call vote and the motion did not pass. There was confusion during the tally and discussion about whether rescinding advice and consent would, by itself, remove an incumbent who had already participated in commission business; the attorney cautioned that rescission may have limited practical effect where work based on the appointment had already occurred.

The discussion prompted requests for clearer appointment procedures and for more transparent documentation of past appointments. No further action was adopted at the meeting; the mayor’s appointment remained in place.