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Board to pilot new meeting structure and consent-agenda process starting in May
Summary
The village manager proposed separating work sessions for discussion and legislative sessions for votes and piloting a consent agenda to bundle minor items; trustees agreed to test the format beginning in May and asked staff to adjust procedures and public-notice language.
The village manager outlined a proposed revamp of meeting procedures intended to make board meetings more efficient and transparent.
Under the proposal, the month’s first meeting would be a longer work session focused on substantive discussion and presentations; the second meeting would be a legislative session for hearings, the audit of bills and votes. The manager also proposed a consent-agenda model for routine administrative items that have been fully vetted in the work session so the board could take a single vote on the bundle, with the option to pull items for separate discussion after public comment.
Trustees raised concerns about setting meeting times, preserving opportunities for public comment (including for people who do not watch work sessions), microphone/AV arrangements and how to define what belongs on consent. "You are fully discussing the item at the work session," one trustee said; "then if everyone is in consensus, then you can put it on the consent agenda." The board agreed to pilot the new structure starting in May, ask staff to tweak the proposed rules and post clear summaries on the website so viewers can follow what was discussed at work sessions.
What happens next: staff will prepare procedural language and website documentation, pilot the schedule in May and return with proposed rule amendments and clarifications (including how public comment will be scheduled) for the board to consider.
