[Peace-discuss] Re: Peace-discuss Digest, Vol 51, Issue 37

[C. G. Estabrook]

I don't think it's positive at all.  It's purpose seems clearly to prevent what 
we've been doing.

The new bill adds to existing law (three time) the insistence that the subjects 
of "advisory questions of public policy" must be "relevant to powers granted to 
electors under the Township Code." Withdrawal from Iraq, impeachment, etc., are 
not "powers granted to electors under the Township Code."

And the process of adding referenda is made more cumbersome -- it can't just be 
done by a 3/5 vote at the meeting -- so that a judgment on relevancy can be made 
by the town board, which is not now possible.  --CGE


E. Wayne Johnson wrote:
> Here is how I read this, which is actually very positive relative to the 
> interests of the People.
> 
> The request for agenda item must be relevant to the powers given to 
> Electors (that is us the people of the Township),
> and among the Powers Granted to Electors, is the Power to Authorize an 
> Advisory Question of Public Policy
> as provided by 60 ILCS 1/30-205:
> 
> (60 ILCS 1/30-205)
> Sec. 30-205. Advisory referenda. By a vote of the majority of electors 
> present at a town meeting, the electors may authorize that an advisory 
> question of public policy be placed on the ballot at the next regularly 
> scheduled election in the township. The township board shall certify the 
> question to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question 
> in accordance with the general election law.
> (Source: P.A. 89-331, eff. 8-17-95.)
> 
> ****
> 
> Under the new bill (not yet law), agenda items can be placed by a 
> petition of 15 or more registered voters. The content of
> the referendum is any Advisory Question of Public Policy (that has not 
> changed). What is (proposed to be) changed is
> that the People (that's Us) will be empowered to put items on the 
> agenda, including referenda authorized under the 60 ILCS 1/30-205.
> 
> There is additionally the authority to call a special township meeting. 
> That special meeting could be to put referenda on the ballot,
> since that is relevant to the powers granted to electors under the Code.
> 
>>
>>     ....(b) Agenda. Not less than 10 days before the annual
>>     meeting, the township board shall adopt an agenda for the
>>     annual meeting. Any 15 or more registered voters in the
>>     township may request an agenda item for consideration by the
>>     electors at the annual meeting by giving written notice of a
>>     specific request to the township clerk no later than March 1
>>     prior to the annual meeting. The agenda published by the
>>     township board shall include any such request made by voters if
>>     the request is relevant to powers granted to electors under the
>>     Township Code.
>>         (c) Additional agenda items. Any matter or proposal not set
>>     forth in the published agenda shall not be considered at the
>>     annual meeting other than advising that the matter may be
>>     considered at a special meeting of the electors at a later
>>     date...
>>
>>         Sec. 35-5. Special township meeting. Special township
>>     meetings shall be held when the township board (or at least 15
>>     voters of the township) file in the office of the township
>>     clerk a written statement that a special meeting is necessary
>>     for the interests of the township. The statement also shall set
>>     forth the objects of the meeting, which must be relevant to
>>     powers granted to electors under this Code...
>>
>>         Sec. 35-10. Notice of special meeting; business at meeting.
>>         (a) Notice of a special township meeting shall be given in
>>     the same manner and for the same length of time as for regular
>>     township meetings.
>>         (b) The notice shall set forth the object of the meeting as
>>     contained in the statement filed with the township clerk, which
>>     must be relevant to powers granted to electors under this Code.
>>     No business shall be done at a special meeting except the
>>     business that is embraced in the statement and notice...
>>
>>  
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