Madison Co., IL. (ECWd) –
This special meeting needs to be canceled before they embarrass themselves any further.
- Improper Notice of suggested agenda items, according to county ordinance
- Board lacks statutory powers to prescribe and remove duties of the chairman and vice-chairman
At least 12 members of the Madison County Board called for a Special Meeting to pass an alleged Ordinance prescribing duties of the chairman and chairman “pro tem.” (Agenda and Proposed Ordinance). We urge you to read the proposed ordinance, it reads like children crying over losing their election bid in the primary election.
For starters, Madison County Board Rules 30.02, Board Meetings, Para (G), directs how meetings are called, and it specifically calls for a four working day notice to the county chairman:
(G) The County Clerk shall prepare an agenda for each regular meeting and special meeting of the Board. The agenda shall be sufficiently itemized to inform Board members and the public of the business to be considered by the Board. Any Board member may place an item on the agenda by notifying the County Board Chairperson and the Clerk of the Board. Such items to be placed on the agenda shall be communicated to the County Board Chairperson and the Clerk of the Board by 12:00 noon on the fourth working day prior to the appropriate meeting, and may be referred to the appropriate committee by the County Board Chairperson.
Second, the proposed Ordinance would violate the Illinois Counties Code, Section 2-1003, Chairman and Vice-Chairman, by attempting to assign duties to a Chairman Pro Tem (whose position/title is not authorized except in counties NOT under township organization), which should be “vice-chairman” who, according to state statute only has power to act “during a meeting when the chairman is absent.”
Madison County is not a home rule unit of local government having only those powers expressly granted to them by the state legislature or state constitution, they must ask where they were granted the power to do whatever it is they are attempting to do.
