The Village of Forrest shall be governed by a Board of Trustees, which shall be elected at large and shall consist of a President and six trustees.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Forrest as Ch. 2.0 of the 2008 Municipal Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The members of the Board of Trustees shall be elected and serve for a four-year term, and until their successors are elected and qualified, as provided by law. The Board of Trustees shall be the legislative department of the municipal government and shall perform such duties and have such powers as provided by law and ordinance.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 100, General Provisions, Art. I)]
All regular meetings of the President and Board of Trustees shall be held of the second Monday of each and every month at the Village Hall in the Village of Forrest beginning at 7:00 p.m., except whenever the regular meeting date shall fall on a legal holiday, such regular meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day at the same hour and place.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 100, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Special meeting of the Board of Trustees may be called by the President or any three members of the Board of Trustees, provided that written notice of such meetings shall be given to each member of the Board of Trustees no less than 48 hours before the time set for such meetings.
The President shall be presiding officer of the regular and special meeting of the Board of Trustees, and of other meetings when the Board of Trustees convenes as a committee of the whole. In the absence of the President, the President may appoint a presiding officer, or the senior-most Board member may serve as the presiding officer.
A majority of the elected members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum thereof, but no ordinance shall be passed except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the elected member of the Board of Trustees or according to law.
A.
Order of business. The order of business at all regular or special meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be designated by the Agenda of Business distributed at or prior to the meeting.
B.
Motions, resolutions and ordinances. All motions, resolutions and ordinances submitted to the Board of Trustees shall be reduced to writing before being voted upon. Where such are adopted and entered upon the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees, the name of the member moving the adoption, and the name of the member seconding same, shall be entered in the minutes. On each matter submitted to the Board of Trustees upon which a vote is taken, the vote of each member voting, as well as the vote of the President when the President is required by law or by ordinance to vote, and the vote shall also be entered in the minutes.
C.
Addressing meetings. No person other than the President, member of the Board of Trustees, or Village officer shall address the Board of Trustees at any regular or special meeting except upon consent of a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees present.
D.
Suspension of rules. The rules of order, other than those provided by law, may be suspended at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at any meeting of the Board of Trustees.
E.
Robert's Rules of Order. Robert's Rules of Order, 75th Anniversary Edition, shall govern the deliberations of the Board of Trustees, except as is otherwise provided by law or ordinance.
The Village Clerk shall keep the minutes and records of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees.
A.
Typical committees. The Village President will appoint committees from time to time as the needs arise. No committee shall be permanent. Some committees which may exist, but are not limited to, are: Committee on Finance; Committee on Water and Sewer; Committee on Streets and Alleys; Committee on Parks and Recreation; Committee on Building and Zoning; Committee on Personnel; Committee on Civic Improvement and Beautification; Committee on Health, Safety and Emergency Planning; Committee on Licenses and Ordinances; Committee on Power, Lights, and Municipal Properties; and Committee on Garbage and Public Nuisance.
B.
Membership. The President shall appoint the members of all committees and shall designate a chairperson. Each committee shall consist of three members of the Board of Trustees, except, as the Board of Trustees shall otherwise provide or as provided in the committee profiles below.
C.
Special committees. The President shall appoint such special committees as shall be deemed necessary, or as the Board of Trustees shall direct.
D.
Reports of committees. All committee reports shall be given at the regular board meeting and shall become part of the minutes as recorded by the Village Clerk.
The duties of the typical committees shall be as follows:
A.
Committee on Finance. The Committee on Finance shall audit all bills and accounts, approve the Treasurer's monthly report, approve the reports of any Village collectors, manage and protect the various funds of the Village; recommend to the Board of Trustees the annual appropriation and tax levy ordinance, report to the Board of Trustees when requested so to do concerning the finances of the Village, and to perform such other duties as may be provided for by law or by ordinance. The Committee will also be responsible for insuring the Village is properly insured. The Committee shall consist of the Village President, the Village Clerk, and the most senior Trustee.
B.
Committee on Water and Sewer. The Committee on Water and Sewer shall investigate, examine, inspect and report to the Board of Trustees on all installations, proposed installations, and all matters pertaining to water and sewer within the Village, and to obtain, preserve and maintain all records, plats, sketches, drawings and other papers relating to such installations, proposed installations, and other matters pertaining to water and sewer within the Village.
C.
Committee on Streets and Alleys. The Committee on Streets and Alleys shall have charge of all grading, gravel, paving, digging, trenching, cleaning, clearing, vacating or opening of all streets, alleys, curbing and sidewalks in the Village, and shall recommend to the Board of Trustees any purchase, change, or disposition of machinery or equipment, and shall perform such other duties as may be provided for by law or by ordinance.
D.
Committee on Parks and Recreation. The Committee on Parks and Recreation shall have charge of all park areas owned by or controlled by the Village, and shall recommend to the Board of Trustees all regulations proper for the care and management of such areas, and shall perform such other duties as may be provided for by law or by ordinance.
E.
Committee on Garbage and Public Nuisance. The Committee on Garbage and Public Nuisance shall recommend to the Board of Trustees all regulations, restrictions, and conditions proper for the general health of the inhabitants of the Village, for the collection and disposal of garbage and other refuse, for the general cleanliness of yards and alleys, and shall perform such other duties as may be provided for by law or by ordinance.
F.
Committee on Civic Improvement and Beautification. The Committee on Civic Improvement and Beautification shall recommend to the Board of Trustees any programs and/or policies which will further the Village's mission and vision statements and improve the general appeal of the Village to prospective businesses and residents.
G.
Committee on Health, Safety and Emergency Planning. The Committee on Health, Safety and Emergency Planning shall recommend to the Board of Trustees all procedures, regulations, restrictions and conditions proper for the health and safety of the inhabitants of the Village, provide for of law and order in the Village, for the enforcement of the ordinances of the Village, for the planning in the event of a disaster or catastrophic event.
H.
Committee on Licenses and Ordinances. The Committee on Licenses and Ordinances shall recommend to the Board of Trustees all procedures proper for the licensing of all activities, subject to mandates of Illinois law, carried on within the Village limits. Said Committee shall recommend to the Board of Trustees the amount deemed proper as a fee for licenses subject to regulation by the United States or the State of Illinois. Said Committee shall also recommend to the Board of Trustees all additions or modifications to Village ordinances as well as suggesting the procedure for modifying it.
I.
Committee on Personnel. The Committee on Personnel shall recommend to the Board of Trustees areas such as compensation, work rules, staffing levels, added or deleted positions, work schedules, hiring and terminations, disciplines, and position descriptions which provides responsibility and appropriate authority for all Village employees.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 100, General Provisions, Art. I)]
J.
Committee on Power, Lights and Municipal Properties. The Committee on Power, Lights and Municipal Properties shall recommend to the Board of Trustees all matters concerning use and maintenance of Village power, lights and Village-owned property. The Committee shall also recommend proposed regulations and procedures for the laying of new power lines, gas lines and electrical lines for private consumption and for the discontinuance of existing lines. Said Committee, after investigation, shall recommend public utility companies to be contracted with for the furnishing of power and lights.