Pecatonica Township Electors to vote on use of township property –

Pecatonica, IL. (ECWd) –

Prior to the Feb 18, 2020, Pecatonica Township meeting, Rogene Hamilton’s attorney, Denise Ambroziak, sent the Pecatonica Police Chief, and the township’s attorney a letter stating that Rogene Hamilton will be attending this meeting and that any alleged 6 month ban from township property is outside the authority of the township and invalid (READ IT HERE).

Hamilton attended this meeting and spoke during public comment. She presented the Township Clerk with petitions signed by at least 15 electors of the township directing that a proposed Ordinance be placed on the meeting agenda for the annual meeting of the electors, to be held on April 14, 2020.

This proposed Ordinance comes after three arrests at three separate board meetings of residents attending and wishing to speak. The charges on all three arrestees were dismissed either by the State’s Attorney dropping the charges, or by the Court dismissing them. As a result, and in accordance with the statutory powers granted to the electors, they will vote to direct certain uses of township property and penalties for all township ordinance violations, as listed below:

Agenda Item:

Consideration of AN ORDINANCE REGULATING PECATONICA TOWNSHIP’S CORPORATE PROPERTY. Said ordinance to state as follows:

“ORDINANCE REGULATING PECATONICA TOWNSHIP’S CORPORATE PROPERTY

Pursuant to Sections 30-20 and 30-25 of the Illinois Township Code, 60 ILCS 1, et seq., the electors of the Town of Pecatonica exercise their powers under Article 30 to take all necessary measures and give directions for the exercise of their corporate powers.

Pursuant to the powers granted township electors, Section 30-50(a) of the Illinois Township Code, the electors of the Town of Pecatonica, do hereby make the following orders for the regulation and use of the township’s corporate property deemed conducive to the interests of its inhabitants as to the following:

• • • No person shall be prohibited from township corporate property without court order obtained through a civil court action in the name of the township in the circuit court.
    • No person shall be prohibited from attending a public meeting of the Township Board of Trustees, or any other public meeting held on township corporate properties, except as provided by Court order pursuant to a civil court action in the name of the township in the circuit court.
    • No person shall be removed from any public meeting unless such person is acting in a disorderly manner, and after twice noticed from the Supervisor, persists in that conduct, the supervisor may order the person to withdraw from the meeting. If the person refuses to withdraw, the supervisor may order any police officer or other person to take the disorderly person from the meeting and confine him or her in some convenient place until the meeting is adjourned. The person refusing to withdraw shall, for that offense, forfeit a sum not exceeding $10 for the use of the township to be recovered in a civil action in the name of the township in the circuit court.

Pursuant to Section 30-190 of the Illinois Township Code, violations of this and all other Ordinances of the Town of Pecatonica shall not be classified in excess of a petty offense and the fines and penalties for each offense shall not be in excess of $10.

Pursuant to Section 30-195 of the Illinois Township Code, all penalties, when collected, shall be deposited into the Township General Fund.

All ordinances in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.”

You can see Hamilton’s public comment and petition presentation in the meeting video at approximately the 6:41 mark, below:

It is now up to the electors to attend the annual meeting of the electors on April 14, 2020, and either vote in favor of or against this proposed Ordinance.

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