LaGrange board adopts public-comment rules after residents warned they could silence open discussion

President Kukler framed the proposed resolution as an attempt to provide consistent rules for public comment that comply with the Illinois Open Meetings Act. He and counsel said public comment time is intended for remarks germane to the board's jurisdiction, that the presiding officer may manage time, and that the proposed rules set a maximum of 30 minutes for public comment and a 3-minute limit per speaker unless the presiding officer designates a different limit before comment begins.

Jonathan Robinson, a resident, told the board he was stopped from continuing at an 11/18 plan commission open discussion and urged trustees not to adopt rules that appear directed at one individual. He said the draft's language (section b2) would be an overreaction and asked the board to require proof of a broader need before enacting such limits. Kirsten Robinson raised a related point about written submissions that arrive after the agenda is published and urged the board to constrain the presiding officer's ability to decline to read those submissions into the public record except for narrow categories (e.g., offensive or immaterial material).

Village counsel and President Kukler responded: counsel said the draft rules reflect a model the firm has provided to other clients after reviewing attorney-general opinions and relevant case law and that they were not drafted for LaGrange specifically. Kukler said the village already typically uses a 3-minute guide and that staff will continue to follow legal guidance; the board then voted to adopt the resolution by unanimous roll call.

Trustees and staff said the presiding officer may ask whether a speaker is a resident but should not require a home address; counsel noted limitations set by attorney-general opinions. The adoption does not change other processes for hearings where formal testimony and cross-examination may occur.