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Resident objects that Davis Junction appropriation ordinance was not posted online before hearing
Summary
At a July 22 special public hearing, a resident said the appropriation ordinance "has not been on the website" and argued the public lacked a chance to review it; the chair said physical availability at Village Hall for 10 days would satisfy notice requirements.
A resident told the Davis Junction Village Board during a July 22 special public hearing that the appropriation ordinance "has not been on the website as it stated that it would be in public notice nor is there 1 available here at Village Hall, readily available for the public to inspect." The resident was sworn in and raised the concern before the board proceeded.
The chair responded that Illinois law requires the appropriation ordinance be available for public inspection for at least 10 days and said the method of availability can include a physical copy at Village Hall. "If it in fact was available at the village hall for the last 10 days, then that satisfies your default range," the chair said, noting that posting on the website is commonly used but not strictly required by statute.
The resident also pointed to an apparent mislabeling on the village website, saying the meeting and agenda appeared under a different administrative meeting time, which could confuse members of the public expecting a 6:00 p.m. start. The board discussed briefly whether to close and reopen the hearing at 6:00 p.m. to allow anyone who expected the later start to view the materials.
The hearing centered on an appropriation ordinance, which the chair emphasized is a ceiling-setting legal document rather than a line-by-line spending plan. Board members said they would do due diligence on future postings and acknowledged the website labeling created confusion for at least one resident.
