Vendetta? La Grange Changes Public Comment Rules

LA GRANGE, IL – A La Grange resident on Monday alleged a village official had a vendetta against him, resulting in a permanent change in the town's public comment rules.

The village president said that wasn't the case.

On Tuesday, the village updated its rules for public comments at its meetings. It continues the three-minute limit per speaker, though the board often waives that rule.

The new rules prohibit a speaker from yielding time to another person. This happens at times in public meetings around the area, where a person who cannot finish within three minutes hands off the script to another.

The regulations also now specifically bar a person who represents a larger group from getting more time to speak.

During public comments, Jonathan Robinson, who lives in the 10 block of Seventh Avenue, said he suspected a situation involving him at last week's Plan Commission meeting inspired the new rules.

Robinson lives next door to the Jackson Square antique mall, 112 E. Burlington Ave., where a developer is proposing a 39-unit residential complex.

The developer is seeking exceptions to the zoning code, which many neighbors oppose.

At Monday's board meeting, Robinson said he was told there were no time limits for speaking during public comments at Plan Commission meetings.

"I was arbitrarily bullied off the podium by the chairperson," Robinson told the board. "Please note that village staff did not step in to prevent this, even though it was established that there was no time limit at an open discussion."

He said he tried to let his wife, Kiersten Robinson, read the rest of his comments in her three minutes, but was prevented from doing so.

The proposed rule changes, he said, were a "ridiculous" overreaction to one instance involving one person.

"I'm in a rare situation where the developer has proposed the largest building possible this side of the railroad tracks, directly adjoining my single-family home, a single-family home that I gutted and remodeled to exactly what I wanted in a location I love," Robinson said.

Village President Mark Kuchler said the changes were not directly related to Robinson. But he said Robinson raised issues that prompted research into public comment rules.

The proposed procedures are the same as those in many other towns, Kuchler said.

Robinson contended a particular official had a vendetta against him.

However, Kuchler denied the official and the village generally held a vendetta against Robinson.

The village's attorney, Benjamin Schuster, said his firm had drafted the same proposed rules for other towns.

"This was not drafted with any person in mind," Schuster said. "It was not drafted specifically for La Grange."

The Village Board voted unanimously for the rules. Trustee Shawana McGee, who called in sick, was absent, the village said.