Round Lake Beach amends village code to allow consent agendas and revise public-comment rules

The Round Lake Beach Village Council voted Jan. 27 to amend Section 1-5-2 of the village code to permit a consent agenda for routine matters and to update public-comment procedures.

Village Attorney Scott Puma explained the changes, saying they align village practice with modern municipal procedures and recommendations from the Public Access Counselor. "This would be for matters like your meeting minutes, your expenditures, things that you've done routinely," Puma said. He described the consent agenda as a two-step process in which members first accept the consent list and then approve it; any item can be pulled for separate discussion with a second vote. Puma also said the amendment formalizes a 30-minute cap for public comment and a three-minute limit per speaker, and it clarifies that people need not give names or addresses if they prefer not to.

Puma told trustees the code's previous language anticipated a first and second reading approach that the village historically did not follow. "As long as I've been here, we haven't done what your ordinance says... it just hasn't been done here in the time that my firm's been with the village," he said. He recommended changing the code so items would be referred to the committee of the whole and then come to the village board under current practice.

Trustees moved, seconded and approved the ordinance by roll call. Mayor Nicholls said the change would shorten routine parts of meetings and could be revisited if needed. The ordinance was presented after discussion at the committee of the whole and will take effect as adopted.