Handling Of Elmhurst City Meeting Criticized

ELMHURST, IL — A key Elmhurst committee considering two controversial requests moved public comment to the end of its meeting this week.

That was after the committee had decided on the issues on which people wanted to comment. Those attending the meeting have expressed their concerns over the city's handling of the meeting.

On Monday, the City Council's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee made recommendations on a proposed sober home and the extension of a permit for a nursing home's expansion.

The committee typically takes public comments at the start of meetings. At every other meeting this year, the committee followed that practice.

Under the city code, the City Council must accept public comments at the start of its meetings. But its committee chairmen have discretion to move back input.

It is not exactly clear why the committee changed its meeting agenda. The members — Chairman Mike Honquest, Mark Mulliner and Bob Dunn — did not return calls for comment.

In an interview Friday, incoming Mayor Scott Levin said it's a better practice to hold public input before decisions are made. Levin, an alderman who attended much of the meeting in question, said he understood that the input may have been delayed because Alderman Dunn arrived late.

"It's disrespectful that you don't have public comment before a decision is made," said Levin, who becomes mayor Monday. "The reason we have public comment is so that we can learn what the public's concerns and ideas are."

Alderman Michael Bram agreed. He said in an interview that pushing back public input is not illegal, but it's "very dismissive of the public."

"The reason for public input is to hear people's concerns, issues and compliments," said Bram, whose last day as an alderman is Monday after two decades of service. "You're dismissing the well-being of residents. You're putting the committee's concerns above the public's. It's unacceptable."

Elmhurst resident Jay McNichols said he liked the committee's recommendation against approving a two-year extension for Elmhurst Extended Care Center's permit to expand. But he said he was surprised Chairman Honquest delayed public comment on the issues at hand until after the members voted on them.

"There were several public comments directed straight at the Committee objecting to the decision to vote before public comments were heard," McNichols said in an email to Patch.

Sometime public bodies move back public input out of frustration. An example of that occurred last fall with the Hinsdale High School District 86 board.

"I've said this for a number of years. I'm tired of folks coming in and complaining and not listening as we go through the meeting to answer the questions we have," board President Kevin Camden said after public comments ended at a September meeting. "So we'll move audience communications to the end. If we answer the questions, great. If we don't, the board will have the opportunity to address them at the end of the meeting, and that's the way it's going to be moving forward until there's a new chair."

Despite his promise, Camden quietly moved comment to the start of meetings in January. He lost in his bid for a new term in the April 6 election.