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Trustees table ordinance to repeal and replace director of public safety after heated debate
Summary
Trustees debated an ordinance to repeal and replace the director of public safety ordinance (ref. ord. 2017-08), with trustees citing lack of prior information, overlapping duties with chiefs, and budget/salary ambiguity; a motion to table passed for further review.
The University Park Board of Trustees postponed consideration of an ordinance that would repeal and replace the village's director of public safety ordinance, following extended debate and legal explanation.
The ordinance presented (a proposed repeal/replace of the director of public safety position and duties) referenced an earlier ordinance adopted in 2017. One trustee said the 2017 language had been adapted to benefit a village manager and argued the current replacement draft would "strip" responsibilities from the police and fire chiefs and conflict with the village's manager-strong charter. That trustee recommended full repeal, calling the provision "not working."
Village counsel Felicia Frazier told trustees that municipalities differ on whether to maintain a director of public safety and that the board can tailor duties and authorities to local needs. Frazier said the board could table the ordinance, amend it on the floor, or proceed with changes later; she advised the board that the existing ordinance text dated from 2017 and that changes could be made to clarify duties.
Several trustees said they had not received adequate notice or documentation to vet the ordinance before the meeting and urged that the matter be discussed at the board's CAL meeting so trustees could review and provide resident input. Concerns included ambiguous compensation language (the draft stated compensation "shall be established from time to time by the village board") and unclear reporting lines between the director, the village manager and the chiefs.
The board voted to table the ordinance to allow more review and revision. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote and recorded ayes, nays and abstentions; the motion to table passed with abstentions counted with the majority per the clerk's statement. Trustees discussed whether a temporary appointment could be used while the ordinance is revised; counsel said the board could consider options but did not advise a specific step beyond tabling and revising the draft.
The tabling ends action on E-2a for this meeting; trustees directed that the ordinance receive additional discussion and review before a future vote.
