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PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
AN AMENDMENT TO THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RULES OF ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter Title 1 - Administrative, Chapter 5 - Forest Preserve District President and Board of Commissioners Rules of Organization and Procedure, Section 1-5-4 - Parliamentary Rules, Subsection 4-30 - Public Testimony, of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as Follows:
1-5-4: - PARLIAMENTARY RULES.
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4-30. Public testimony. Subject to the provisions herein, public testimony will be permitted at regular and special meetings of the Board. Authorization as a public speaker shall only be granted to those individuals who have submitted in writing, their name, address, subject matter, and organization (if any) to the Secretary 24 hours in advance of the meeting on an electronically submitted “Record of Committee Witness” form. Duly authorized public speakers shall be called upon to deliver testimony at a time specified in the meeting agenda. Public testimony must be germane to a specific item(s) on the meeting agenda, and the testimony must not exceed three minutes; and the Secretary will keep track of the time and advise when the time for public testimony has expired. Public Speakers shall indicate the item that they are a proponent or opponent of and shall only speak to that item. Persons authorized to provide public testimony shall not use vulgar, abusive or otherwise inappropriate language when addressing the Board. Failure to act appropriately; failure to speak to an item that is germane to the meeting, or failure to adhere to the time requirements may result in expulsion from the meeting and/or disqualify the person from providing future testimony.
Individuals may submit a “Record of Committee Witness” form to the Secretary in support or opposition to an item on any agenda without testifying in person. The “Record of Committee Witness” form shall also allow for, but not mandate, the submission of a written statement in support of or in opposition to an item on an agenda. The Secretary shall announce to each Committee whether any “Record of Committee Witness” forms have been submitted, whether the forms support or oppose an item and any statements filed on those forms.
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Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption.
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