[Adopted 12-10-1985 by Ord. No. 85-79 (Ch. 2, Art. III, §§ 2-30.1
through 2-40, of the 1977 Code)]
A.
After being elected, and prior to assuming the office of County Board
member, every person shall take and subscribe the following oath or
affirmation:
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"I do solemnly swear (affirm) that I will support the Constitution
of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois,
and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of County
Board member of Stephenson County according to the best of my ability."
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B.
No person shall be seated as a County Board member until he or she
takes and subscribes the above oath.
A.
If any person elected to the office of County Board member shall fail to take the oath as provided in § 29-4 of this Code prior to the first day of January immediately following his or her election, then said office shall be deemed vacant and shall be filled as provided by state law.
B.
Vacancies may also occur by reason of a member's death, removal,
resignation, permanent move of his or her residence from the Board
district from which he or she was elected, or as otherwise provided
by law. The Board, by a two-thirds vote, may declare a County Board
office to be vacant for any of the above reasons.[1]
[Amended 10-14-1986 by Ord. No. 86-94; 2-13-1991 by Ord. No. 91-02-162; 1-13-2010 by Ord. No.
10-01-1723; 5-9-2012 by Ord. No. 12-05-1879; 4-19-2018 by Ord. No. 18-04-1858; 4-21-2022 by Ord. No. 22-04-26]
A.
Each County
Board member shall be entitled to a per-diem in accordance with the
following schedule: starting on December 1, 2022 of $100; starting
on December 1, 2026 of $125; and starting on December 1, 2030 of $150.
Each County Board member shall also be entitled to a mileage travel
expense at the rate set by the IRS, which is in effect on the date
of the first day of the term he or she is fulfilling for each County
Board meeting which he or she attends. Each member shall also be entitled
to the same compensation (per-diem plus mileage) for attending a session
of a County Board committee of which he or she is a member.
B.
If a member
attends more than one meeting on the same day, then he or she shall
be entitled to only a single per-diem, but shall receive reimbursement
for the total travel expense if the meetings were held at separate
locations or if they required separate trips. Mileage shall be measured
as the direct route distance from the member's principal residence
to the site of the meeting.
C.
A member
shall receive travel expense for attending a meeting, other than as
described above, only if the member was assigned to attend the meeting.
The mileage rate for such assigned meetings shall be at the current
Internal Revenue Service rate. Refer to Resolution 23-05-86, titled
"Reimbursement Policy of Travel, Meal and Lodging Expenses of Public
Officials and Employees Relating to Official Business of the County
of Stephenson, Illinois."[1]
[Amended 5-18-2023 by Res. No. 23-05-86]
D.
The Chairperson of the County Board shall be entitled to an annual stipend of $9,000 per year. The Vice Chairman of the County Board shall be entitled to an annual stipend of $750 per year, payable monthly. Each committee chairperson shall receive a stipend of $200 per month. All such stipends shall be in addition to the per-diem referred to in Subsection A hereof.
A.
At the first meeting of the Board in December 1984, and every two
years thereafter, the Board shall, by majority vote, choose one of
its members as Chairperson and another member as Vice Chairperson.
Each office is to be balloted on separately, unless otherwise directed
by the Board. The Vice-Chairperson shall serve in the absence of the
Chairperson.
B.
The Chairperson of the Board shall preside at all sessions of said
Board and shall open the session with an invocation and the Pledge
of Allegiance. The Chairperson shall take the chair and call the members
to order. If a quorum is present, he or she shall direct that the
minutes of the preceding meeting be disposed of for the purpose of
approval or disapproval. The Chairperson shall preserve order and
decorum, shall restrain members from engaging in debate, and shall
decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the entire
Board.
C.
The Chairperson of the Board shall make the appointments of members
of the County Board to the committees of the Board. The Chairperson
shall also appoint the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of each committee.
The Chairperson of the Board may remove members of the County Board
from committees, including removing members of the Board from the
positions of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of each committee. The
Chairperson shall vote on all questions, whether by ballot or on a
call of the "ayes" and "nays."
[Amended 5-15-2014 by Ord. No. 14-05-2075]
D.
The Chairperson may, at any time, vacate the chair and appoint the
Vice-Chairperson to act as Chairperson Pro Tem and may take part in
the discussion of any question pending before the Board; provided,
however, that the appointment of the Vice-Chairperson and Chairperson
Pro Tem shall not extend beyond adjournment, and provided further
that the Board may terminate said appointment before adjournment,
if it pleases, by electing another Chairperson Pro Tem. In the event
of the absence of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson at any time
during a meeting of the Board, the Board shall appoint a Chairperson
Pro Tem, who shall serve until the end of said meeting, unless the
Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson shall take the chair and preside.
In the absence of the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, any member
of the Board may call the meeting to order for the purpose of electing
a Chairperson Pro Tem.
[Amended 2-13-2013 by Ord. No. 13-03-1965]
The County Board shall meet on the Thursday following the second
Tuesday of each month, except when otherwise provided by statute or
by action of the County Board. A majority of the members of the Board
shall constitute a quorum to transact business. If a quorum is not
present, a minority may adjourn to another day and hour.
If a member desires to delay the consideration of any matter
pending before the Board, then he or she may make a motion to lay
over the matter. The motion to lay over shall specify when the Board
shall next consider the matter, shall be made only after a motion
to approve or disapprove the matter under consideration has been made
and seconded, and must be approved by the Board by a majority vote
of those members voting.
When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the
Chairman or read by the Clerk prior to any debate. All motions (except
motion to adjourn, postpone, or commit) shall be reduced to writing
when so ordered by the Chairman. A motion to adjourn shall always
be in order, and shall be decided without debate; but a motion to
adjourn shall not be received when the Board is voting on another
question. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received
except a motion to adjourn, a motion to table, a motion to lay over,
or a motion calling for the previous questions.
A.
When a member is about to speak in debate or present any matter to
the Board, he shall respectfully address himself to the Chairperson,
and after being recognized by the Chair, he shall confine himself
to the question under debate, and avoid comments on personalities.
When two or more members shall ask to be recognized simultaneously,
the Chairperson shall name the member who is first to speak. No person
shall speak longer than 10 minutes total on the same question, except
by permission of the Chairperson.
B.
When a member is called to order he shall sit down and not speak
except in explanation until the Chairperson shall have determined
whether he is in order or not; and every question or order shall be
decided by the Chairperson, subject to an appeal to the Board. When
the Chairperson is putting any question to or addressing the Board,
no member shall walk out of or across the room. While a member is
speaking, no other member shall walk between him or her and the Chair.
C.
At no time shall either a member of the Board or any other person
be allowed to present purely political remarks to the Board while
the Board is in session. Whether the remarks are political in nature
and subject to this rule shall be determined by the Chairperson of
the Board, subject to an appeal to the Board.
D.
Limited discussion and questions may be allowed from the audience,
dealing with the subject under discussion, at the discretion of the
Chairperson. Such a ruling by the Chairperson shall be conclusive
unless an appeal is taken by a member to the Board, which may overrule
the Chairperson by a majority vote. Members of the audience may make
one statement of three minutes or less on any item they wish to address
during the public comments near the beginning of the meeting and/or
at the public comments near the end of the meeting. The time limit
may be reduced or increased at the discretion of the Chairperson,
subject to appeal by a majority of the Board. Accommodations will
be made for those who have physical needs.
[Amended 3-14-2013 by Ord. No. 13-03-1964; 4-16-2015 by Ord. No. 15-04-1275]
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
No rule shall be suspended except by a two-thirds majority of
the members voting. All questions not addressed by the County Board
rules shall be provided by the parliamentary practice of Robert's
Rules of Order, as now or hereafter amended.
A.
Any member present when his or her name is called to vote on any
question during meeting of the County Board or any of its committees,
and who shall refuse or neglect to vote, shall forfeit his or her
per-diem for said meeting, unless he or she has an interest in the
subject matter of the question and the County Board, by majority vote,
excuses said member from voting at his or her request prior to the
commencement of the roll call on said question. Any member may, when
a vote is taken, call for a roll call on the "ayes" and "nays," which
shall be recorded by the Clerk.
B.
Only those members personally present may vote on a matter before
the Board. Absentee voting or by mail or by proxy shall not be permitted.
[Amended 1-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-01-105; 12-13-1988 by Ord. No.
88-12-134; 2-13-1991 by Ord. No. 91-02-163; 7-11-2007 by Ord. No.
07-07-1477]
A.
The following committees of the Board and the number of members on
each committee shall be as follows:
(1)
Finance and Procurement: seven.
(2)
Nursing Center: five.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 3-14-2012 by Ord. No. 12-03-1871; 12-15-2022 by Ord. No.
2022-12-141]
(3)
Court Services: five.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
(4)
Administration: five.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
(5)
Public Works: five.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
(6)
Public Property and Safety: five.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
(7)
Planning and Development: five.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
B.
Meetings.
[Amended 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480]
(1)
The County Board Chairman shall confer with the appointed committee
chairpersons and thereafter shall announce a schedule of County Board
standing committee meetings within one week of being elected County
Board Chairman in the year of his election. The schedule shall be
placed on the County website and otherwise posted in accordance with
the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.).
(2)
The chairperson of any standing committee, or any three members of
any standing committee, may call a special meeting of that committee.
Any member or members of a committee may file a minority report at
the time the majority report of that committee is presented to the
Board.
(3)
Any member of a committee who has missed three meetings of that committee
in succession without due cause shall be subject to discharge from
the committee upon recommendation of the Finance Committee to the
Board. If the majority of any committee shall, in its opinion, decide
that the chairman of that committee is failing to perform his duties
as chairman of that respective committee, then it shall cause this
information to be communicated to the Chairman of the Board, who will
arrange to have a hearing held before the Finance Committee, who will
decide on the evidence presented and advise the Board as to its decision
and recommendation.
C.
The Chairperson of the Board shall be a nonvoting member of each
of the above committees.
D.
Public comments may be received at any regular and special committee meeting at the request of any person in written and/or oral form. Such comments shall be subject to the will of the committee and to the rules of decorum, § 29-11.
E.
No member of the Board may perform any official action, outside of
his normal authority, except on direction of a proper committee and/or
Board action or actions.
F.
All committees of the Board shall conduct their hearings in the same
manner as stated above.
A chairperson of a standing committee may designate one or more
subcommittees, define its (their) duties and appoint members of the
standing committee to serve on such subcommittee(s). The standing
committee shall approve such appointments by majority vote. A Board
member who is not a member of a standing committee may be appointed
by the chairperson of that standing committee to serve on a subcommittee
of that standing committee if the Board so concurs by majority vote.
A.
A standing committee shall discuss those matters referred to it by
the County Board and it may initiate proceedings on the following
matters, among other things, which affect a County department over
which it has supervisory responsibility:
(1)
Consult with department heads on the operation of their departments.
(3)
Recommend to the Finance and Procurement Committee as to:
B.
Copies of all reports of fee-earning offices shall be given to the
Finance and Procurement Committee.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
[Amended 1-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-01-104; 1-13-1987 by Ord. No.
87-01-105; 12-13-1988 by Ord. No. 88-12-134; 2-13-1991 by Ord. No.
91-02-164; 1-10-1995 by Ord. No. 95-01-205]
A.
Finance and Procurement Committee.
(1)
The Finance and Procurement Committee shall be composed of the chairpersons
of the other standing committees. It shall act as the Committee on
Committees and shall meet with the Chairperson of the Board to fill
vacancies on the other standing committees. It shall act as the liaison
between the County Board and the Board of Health and the Community
Mental Health Board and all recipients of revenue-sharing funds from
the County.
(2)
This Committee shall supervise the County Accountant, all County
finances, the preparation of the annual budget, the appropriation
ordinance and annual tax levy, and any other matters pertaining to
the finances of the County. This Committee shall recommend an annual
budget to the Board. Said budget shall annually be presented to the
members of the Board at its regular November Board meeting. It shall
also approve the procurement, placement and payment of all insurance
contracts covering all County departments under the jurisdiction of
the County Board. It shall examine and report to the Board on all
bills over which no other committee has jurisdiction.
(3)
The Committee shall present and recommend an annual budget to all
members of the Board at least 15 days before the adoption of said
budget.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(4), regarding specific Committee meeting dates, added 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480. Current Subsection A(4), references the Interfund Loan Policy, added 4-20-2023 by 4-20-2023 by Res. No. 23-04-55.
(4)
This
Committee shall have oversight of the Interfund Loan Policy, which
establishes administrative procedures for loans between various County
departments.
[Added 4-20-2023 by Res. No. 23-04-55]
B.
Nursing Center Committee. The Committee of the Stephenson County
Nursing Center shall audit the accounts and receipts of the Nursing
Center. The Administrator of the Nursing Center shall manage, supervise,
make recommendations and reports for changes in buildings and the
general conduct of this operation to the Nursing Center Committee.
This Committee shall also be responsible for the care and maintenance
of the County cemetary.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480]
C.
Court Services Committee.
(1)
This Committee shall have supervision of all matters concerning the
Circuit Clerk's office, the Coroner's office, the Judicial Department,
the Probation and Court Services Department, the Public Defender's
office, and the Office of the State's Attorney. It shall also approve
the claims and annual budgets of each of these offices and departments.[2]
[Amended 12-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-12-2194]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(2), regarding Chairperson
membership in the County Board of Health, which immediately followed,
was repealed 2-16-2023.
D.
Administration Committee.
(1)
This Committee shall have supervisory authority of all matters concerning
the following offices: Administrative Services, County Clerk, County
Treasurer, Recorder of Deeds and Supervisor of Assessments. It shall
approve the annual budgets for these departments. It shall also audit
and examine all claims and expenses filed by these offices.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
(2)
This Committee shall also analyze the effect on the County from all
local, state and national legislation. It shall also review and recommend
to the Board the granting or denial of all applications for raffle
or dance hall permits, and refer violations to the State's Attorney
for prosecution. This Committee shall determine the location of voting
facilities.
(3)
In addition to the above duties, the Committee shall be responsible
for implementing the administrative policy of the Board as follows:
(a)
To supervise County administrative affairs in general with ideals
of bringing out proper coordination and cooperation between various
offices, agencies and departments of the County.
(b)
To confer and advise with County officials and committees on
official matters where such conference or advice is asked for or deemed
advisable.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480]
E.
Public Property and Safety Committee.
(1)
The Committee on Public Property and Safety shall have charge of
the County Courthouse, the County Jail and all real estate owned by
the County, with the exception of the Stephenson Nursing Center, County
highway building and Health Department building, which shall remain
under the jurisdiction of the various committees as stated above.
All proposed changes or repairs to be made and all bills and claims
filed against the County in reference to the buildings and property
under jurisdiction of this Committee shall be referred to this Committee
for proper consideration and action.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
(2)
Further, this Committee shall concern itself with all matters pertaining
to the operation of the emergency and disaster agency offices.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480]
(3)
Further, this Committee shall approve all claims and bills against
the County from the emergency service and disaster agency. It shall
also concern itself with the annual appropriations of the Sheriff's
Department, but shall not have the authority to disapprove or approve
any claims against the County from the Sheriff's Department, so long
as such claims do not exceed the budgeted amount for the affected
line item. This Committee shall meet quarterly, or as often as it
deems necessary, with the Sheriff to review the budget status report
of the Sheriff's Department.
F.
Public Works Committee.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 2-13-2013 by Ord. No. 13-02-1960; 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480; 1-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-01-07]
(1)
The
Public Works Committee shall administer the expenditures of the County
highway tax, and shall have general supervision and management of
the purchase and operation of all tractors and machinery owned by
the County, and shall secure employees and material for properly,
efficiently and economically operating said tractors and machinery.
The supervision and maintenance of the County highway building will
be under the direction of said Committee.
(2)
This
Committee shall endeavor to secure all rights-of-way necessary for
the improvement of a public highway, after proper resolution or authorization
has been passed by the County Board. All petitions from the townships
within Stephenson County, Illinois, asking for County aid for the
construction of roads and bridges shall be referred to this Committee.
It shall advertise and award all contracts for roads and bridges after
proper resolution and approval by the County Board. All other matters
pertaining to roads and bridges shall be referred to this Committee.
It shall be the duty of this Committee to carefully investigate all
matters referred to it, confer with the Superintendent of Highways
in reference to any matter referred and, as promptly as possible,
report its decision to the Board.
(3)
The
Committee shall act for the County in the awarding of all contracts
to be paid from the motor fuel tax funds and federal aid matching
funds. All petitions for the addition or deduction or improvement
of the County highway system shall be referred to the Public Works
Committee. The Committee shall, in all its duties, confer with the
County Superintendent of Highways.
(4)
The
Highway Department shall be operated in accordance with the Plan for
the Operation of the County Highway Department by the County Board.
Three copies of said plan shall be on file in the office of the County
Clerk.
(5)
This
Committee shall concern itself with all matters pertaining to, and
in connection with, the operations of the office of the County Animal
Control. This Committee shall have charge over solid waste disposal
and other forms of waste management.
G.
Planning and Development Committee.
(1)
The
Committee on Planning and Development shall have charge of the County
responsibilities concerning zoning. The Committee shall work in cooperation
with public and private sector entities to promote and facilitate
economic planning and development in the Stephenson County area. Such
responsibilities include, but are not limited to, advising the County
Board on how to pass appropriate legislation that will encourage businesses
to expand in the County and to attract new businesses, as well as
promote tourism and increase recreational and historical sites. The
Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the recreational areas
of the County, including Blackhawk Monument, Ridott Fishing Park and
the Winslow boat dock.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 2-13-2013 by Ord. No. 13-02-1960]
(2)
Jurisdiction of the Planning and Development Committee:
(a)
To receive from the Office of the Zoning Administrator copies
of all applications for amendments.
(b)
To receive from the Zoning Administrator all applications for
zoning certificates filed for conditional uses.
(d)
To review preliminary plans and final plats and exercise the authority and have the responsibilities provided in Chapter 355, Subdivision of Land.[4]
[4]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection G(3), regarding specific
Committee meeting dates, added 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821, which
immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-11-2016 by Ord.
No. 16-10-1480.
