Manteno delays vote on remote-attendance ordinance after residents raise transparency concerns

Trustees opted not to vote on Ordinance 25-38, a proposed change to allow trustees to attend meetings remotely under specified conditions, and instead directed staff to place the matter on upcoming committee agendas for fuller discussion.

Trustee Joel (introducing the item) said the ordinance is intended to allow participation for trustees who have work or travel conflicts but emphasized the draft requires a physical quorum to be present before remote participation is allowed. "You have to have a quorum present," a trustee explained during the discussion.

Several residents spoke against altering the attendance rules. Dolly Carson said the change "reduces transparency and robs both the board and the public from verbal and visual interaction," and argued that remote voting could undermine accountability for appointed trustees and elected officials alike.

Trustees agreed to discuss the draft at the finance committee (and also suggested placing it on the village board agenda later) to give members more time for review. Several trustees requested legal review and more public discussion before any final action. No vote on the ordinance was taken at the meeting.