The Board of Trustees of the Orland Fire Protection District welcomes public attendance and participation and will hear interested individuals pursuant to the guidelines outlined in this policy and the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Therefore, at the beginning of each regular monthly meeting, a period of time not to exceed 30 minutes will be devoted to comments presented by the public. If there are no members of the public wishing to address the Board, the Board may continue with its meeting.

The following rules govern speakers who address the Board and all meeting attendees:

1.    Members of the public wishing to speak are asked to call or email the Executive Secretary before 4:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting and provide their names, addresses and topics on which they wish to speak. If applicable, the individual will provide the organization or association with which they are affiliated.

NOTE: Members of the public will not be allowed to discuss individual personnel issues, confidential or political matters, and the speakers’ concerns or comments should be limited to Fire District business. No public comments shall be heard on behalf of or opposed to a candidate for public office nor on any matter that may be subject to discussion by the Board of Trustees in closed/executive session in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

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

3.    The time allowed for each person to speak will be three (3) minutes. Speakers are asked to strictly adhere to time allocated.

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

5.    Speakers must identify themselves and topic(s) before speaking.

6.    Speakers may provide written copies of their comment to the Board.

7.    Groups are asked to designate a single spokesperson.

8.    Board members will not respond to comments from any speakers. The Board President or other presiding officer may respond as appropriate and, for example, direct speakers to the appropriate staff member for assistance

9.    Individuals addressing the Board must at all times adhere to the Fire District policies and other rules as may be necessary for the efficient and orderly conduct of the meeting

10.  The 30 minute time limit and/or 3 minute maximum per speaker may be extended upon a majority vote of the Board

11. Abusive language and/or personal attacks will not be permitted and shall promptly be ruled out of order by the President or other presiding officer.  

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

13.  All public comment shall be addressed to the Board as a whole and no comments shall be addressed to individual members of the Board, Fire District staff or other members of the public.

14.  There shall be no debate on any matters raised during public comment. The Board may, however, refer any matter of public comment to the District Administrator, District staff, an appropriate agency for review, or may place the matter on a subsequent agenda for discussion.

15.  No final action may be taken on any public comment or concern which requires a resolution, or written contract, or which has the effect of approving any expenditure of funds. The Board may, however, direct that any matter raised on these subjects be set for a future agenda, including the preparation of resolutions or other documents for consideration at such time.

The Board vests in the Board President or presiding officer, the authority to terminate the remarks of speakers and attendees who fail to adhere to the above rules and request that they leave the meeting.  If any individual is removed from a meeting as a result of disruptive behavior, then the individual may forfeit their right of reentry to future Board meetings.