The Marvin Council majority's attempt to amend the Village City Charter has caused citizen questions and concerns. Citizens' wanted more time, minority members tried to provide it, but the Council majority refused every option. Here is the play-by-play:
Epps Motions to Table the Charter Amendment Public Hearing
Motion 01
Councilman Epps motioned to table the public hearing, for the ordinance amending the City Charter to allow the Mayor to vote on all matters" and reschedule it at a time when more members of the public could attend.
Further Discussion
Mayor Pollino opposed the motion for the following reasons:
Because people were already at the meeting and had already taken time off work
He felt the public had been given enough time to write letters for the public record
The public could provide input today and again, in Sept, during public comment
Councilperson Mary Shkut pointed out the other issue with holding the public hearing today. She noted once the public hearing is 'opened' the public has less and less time to weigh-in and prepare their response before the Council is permitted to vote. This has a big impact on the timeline for residents.
Councilman Epps made it clear he was in favor of doing what he could to ensure residents were provided with ample time. He said the public could still speak at ‘today’s’ meeting but the public hearing should be tabled..
Mayor Pollino said no public comment period was on the current meeting agenda and is never on work-session meeting agendas.
Councilperson Shkut said a public comment session could be added, as there is no rule that prohibits it - to hear the public while also tabling the public hearing.
Motion 01 - Amended
Councilman Epps amended his motion to add a “public comment” period. This would:
(1) ensure the public at the meeting could provide their input
(2) ensure the public hearing could be tabled until September.
The Vote Was Held
Epps and Shkut voted in favor.
Vandenberg and Dispenziere voted in opposition.
Pollino broke the tie and voted in opposition.
The motion failed 3-2
Pollino Motions to Remove Discussion But Keep Public Hearing
Motion 02
Mayor Pollino then motioned to table all ‘Unfinished Business’ items, including Council discussion of the Charter Amendment, from the agenda, due to time constraints.
Further Discussion
Councilman Epps objected for the following reasons:
(1) The Council should proceed with issues in the order they were presented, and the Council had not yet voted on the second part of his motion.
(2) The Mayor was proposing to remove the Council’s discussion of the Charter Amendment.
Councilperson Epps felt holding the public hearing, then preventing the council from discussing the Charter Amendment seemed like an effort to censor the Council.
Motion Withdrawn
Mayor Pollino appeared to withdraw his motion.
He presided over the motions Epps had placed on the table initially.
Motion to Table the Public Hearing to October 09, 2018
Motion 03
Councilman Epps motioned to table the Charter Amendment Public Hearing to the October 09, 2018 Council meeting.
Further Discussion
The Mayor said the council would not hold off on the Charter Amendment for two months.
The Vote Was Held
Epps and Shkut voted in favor.
Vandenberg and Dispenziere voted in opposition.
Pollino broke the tie and voted in opposition.
The motion failed 3-2
Exchange with Audience Member
A resident and member of the public spoke-up to express their inability to hear the vote Mayor Pollino unexpectedly shouted the audience member down, saying, “Excuse me, sir! This is not your meeting!”
Councilperson Shkut called a Point of Order and asked the Mayor to cease from 'yelling' at residents for merely being interested in what was going on. She reminded the Mayor that residents deserve respect; it was not their fault if they could not hear; they were not speaking-up to challenge the Mayor, but only because they could not hear.
Mayor Pollino apologized and said, something to the effect of “Don’t worry. We are getting the votes. We are getting the votes we need to move ahead.”
Epps Moves to Table the Public Hearing to September 11, 2018
Motion 04
Councilman Epps motioned to table the public hearing to the September 11 meeting.
The Vote Was Held
Epps and Shkut voted in favor.
Vandenberg and Dispenziere voted in opposition.
Pollino broke the tie and voted in opposition.
The motion failed 3-2
Pollino Motions to Remove Discussion But Keep Public Hearing
Motion 05
Mayor Pollino then made a motion to table all ‘Unfinished Business’ items, including Council’s discussion of the City Charter Amendment.
The Vote Was Held
Epps and Shkut voted in opposition.
Vandenberg and Dispenziere voted in favor.
Pollino broke the tie and voted in favor.
The motion passed 3-2
Motion to Adopt the Agenda as Amended
Motion 06
Mayor Pollino then motioned to adopt the August 30 meeting agenda, as amended.
The Vote Was Held
Epps and Shkut voted in opposition.
Vandenberg and Dispenziere voted in favor.
Pollino broke the tie and voted in favor.
The motion passed 3-2
Public Hearing Speakers
Public Hearing
The “Public Hearing” was opened and speakers in attendance were permitted to speak specifically on the topic of the Charter Amendment.
Seven citizens signed up to speak in opposition to the Charter Amendment
Two citizens signed up to speak in defense of the Charter Amendment
Read Verbatim Copies of Public Hearing Submissions Here