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PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
AN AMENDMENT TO THE RULES OF ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE OF THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 2- Administration, Article III - County Board, Division 2 - Rules of Organization and Procedure, Section 2-105(i). Board of Commissioners; meetings of the Board of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as Follows:
Sec. 2-105. - Board of Commissioners; meetings of the Board.
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(i) 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. The Secretary, the Cook County Clerk and the Cook County Bureau of Technology shall provide the technology to implement the “Record of Committee Witness” and shall periodically upgrade such technology.
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Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption.
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