In accordance with the requirements of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, any person attending a village public meeting shall be permitted to address the public officials during Public Comment period, which shall be reserved for each meeting subject to the following rules and procedures:

(a)    Time Allotted for Public Comment: The total time allocated for public comment at the beginning of the public meeting shall be limited to a thirty (30) minute time period.  Public comment at the beginning of the public meeting will be limited to items on the agenda.   The total time allocated for public comment at the end of the public meeting shall be limited to a sixty (60) minute time period.  Public comment at the end of the public meeting will be limited to items on the agenda or other such items that are within the Village’s responsibility.  If it is determined by the Presiding Officer that more than ten (10) people wish to provide public comment during a designated public comment time period, the Presiding Officer may reduce the time allotted for each person to provide public comment or extend the overall time allotted for public comment.

(b)    Public Comment and Decorum Rules: 

1.    Each person who wishes to speak during a public comment time period must sign up on the Village’s sign up form supplied in the meeting room prior to the commencement of the public comment time as listed on the agenda.     

2.    Each person who wishes to speak will be allotted no more than three (3) minutes to make public comment unless a different amount of time is authorized by the Presiding Officer at a particular village public meeting. Any modification to the time allotted to persons providing public comment shall apply to each person speaking during public comment.

3.    Each person who wishes to speak will be allowed to speak once during public comment at the beginning of the meeting and once during public comment at the end of the meeting.

4.    Each person who wishes to speak shall utilize the lectern or other location designated for public comment speakers in the meeting room. 

5.    Each person providing public comment or attending a village public meeting shall follow the directions provided by the Presiding Officer regarding the rules and decorum governing public comments.

6.    Public officials are not required to answer or respond to public comments. Public comments may be taken under advisement and referred to the appropriate village staff member following a village public meeting.

7.    No person shall engage in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the public body’s ability to conduct village business. Members in attendance at a village public meeting shall refrain from noisy outbursts or other distracting actions, including applauding, cheering, or booing during or at the conclusion of public comments.

8.    The Presiding Officer may allow additional public presentations and comments related to an agenda item during a village public meeting, subject to the additional time allotted by the Presiding Officer.

(c)    Enforcement of Public Comment and Decorum Rules:

1.    The Presiding Officer for a village public meeting shall have the authority and responsibility to enforce all public comment and decorum rules.

2.    The Presiding Officer shall have the authority to direct that a person suspends their public comment remarks during a village public meeting for exceeding the allotted time or any other violations of the public comment and decorum rules.

3.    The Presiding Officer may interrupt or terminate a speaker’s public comment time, should the Presiding Officer determine that a person’s comments or actions violate the rules regulating public comment. 

4.    The Presiding Officer may require a person leave a meeting room for a particular village public meeting, should a person’s conduct or action disrupt or interfere with the public body’s ability to conduct village business.

(d)     Public Notification of Public Comment Rules: Section 2-90 subsections (a) through (c) will be posted on the Village’s public website as well as posted in the Council Chambers located at Gurnee Village Hall, 325 N. O’Plaine Road, Gurnee, IL.