Village Introduces Public Comments Via Phone Call During Meetings

OSWEGO, IL — In a news release, The Village of Oswego said it will hold its Committee of the Whole and Village Board meetings on Tuesday, May 12, with new changes in compliance with the Illinois stay-at-home order.

Public comments will now be accepted via phone calls “to increase access and decrease technological barriers for residents who may wish to participate live,” the release said.

The Committee of the Whole will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12. The Village Board meeting will follow at 7 p.m. Village Hall will be opened for the meeting, however, residents are strongly encouraged to watch or participate remotely.

To give a comment at the meetings, residents will have these options:

• Email your comment to publiccomment@oswegoil.org by 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Your comment will be read aloud during the Public Forum portion of the village Board meeting by a Village staff member.
• Give your comment live by phone. Email publiccomment@oswegoil.org or call 630-554-3259 by 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting, and leave your name, address, phone number, and the topic on which you’d like to speak. Village staff will call you during the meeting and will put you on speakerphone so that you can give your comment live. Staff will let the line ring four times before moving onto the next speaker.
• You may also still give public comment in person. If attending, members of the public are required to stay six feet from any other person in the room.

To watch the meeting from home:

• Watch the webinar live here. You’ll see those elected officials, staff members, and other participants who are attending remotely.
• Watch the livestream at here. Scroll down to Upcoming Events.
• Join the meeting by phone. Call 312- 626-6799 just prior to the meeting. When prompted, enter passcode 508 193 215 from your phone. You’ll hear the audio of the meeting through the webinar service.

As always, those giving public comment are asked to abide by the Village’s civility code, which is available on the Village’s website.

In March, Illinois Gov. Pritzker announced a temporary change to the state’s Open Meetings Act that waives the requirement that a physical quorum of elected officials be present to hold a public meeting. Remote participation for elected officials, staff, and the public is expected to continue until the order is lifted.

For more information about public participation at meetings during the COVID-19 crisis, contact Village Clerk Tina Touchette at 630-554-3259 or ttouchette@oswegoil.org.