City attorney tells Freeport council who can place items on agenda after Sanders objects

City Attorney Zito told the Freeport City Council that the mayor, the city manager or any two alderpersons may place items on the council or committee agenda, citing revisions adopted by ordinance on June 16, 2025 and the city code that vests presiding authority in the mayor.

The clarification followed a heated exchange after Mayor Miller called for approval of the agenda and a roll call that the clerk recorded as 7–1. Alderman Sanders objected to counting the agenda approval as a vote, saying, "It shouldn't be a vote," and arguing the council had not formally taken up the agenda in the way he expected.

Zito read the relevant sections of city code and told council members the rules were adopted by a majority and must be followed. He read that, "Pursuant to city code of ordinance section 2 20.1, sub paragraph 29, items can be placed on the council or committee of the whole agenda by the mayor, the city manager, any 2 alderpersons," and that the mayor "shall preside and serve as the chairperson" and has authority to call people to speak and determine when someone is out of order.

Mayor Miller repeatedly asked Alderman Sanders to refrain from speaking when the item was out of order; at one point the mayor warned Sanders that continued disruption would lead to him being called out of order. The exchange reopened a broader debate among council members about process and transparency, but the meeting proceeded to the consent agenda and subsequent items.

The council concluded its business for 2025 and announced the next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2026.