Galesburg City Council has plenty to deliberate on Monday night including final readings of the sale of Churchill, hiring a legislative legal counsel, and changing rules for public comment.
The council will first vote on the sale of the Churchill Junior High building after the new Council seated in May changed course on wanting to develop the school into a community center.
If Council approves the sale city officials expect bids would be received and reviewed by July 5th.
Council can also approve the law firm of Ancel Glink to serve as legislative counsel, which would advise Aldermen independently of the City Attorney.
Ward 5’s Heather Accera says the legislative counsel would advise the City Council in its duties including ordinance and policy making.
Ancel Glink’s services would cost $250 per hour, and $115 an hour for paralegal services and will be paid from the city’s legal fund.
Council will also take up votes on three separate ordinances that all would change rules on how City Council meetings themselves are run.
This follows a work session on May 22 in which the Council tried to work toward compromise on proposals including a 3-minute time limit for public comment speakers.
That’s more than the proposed 2 minutes and less than the currently allowed 5 minutes.
Originally some Aldermen proposed a sign-in sheet for public comment but that’s been done away with after the work session.
There’s also language included at the request of four City Council members that limits the total time allotted for public comment to 60 minutes at regular city council meetings and 30 minutes at work sessions and special meetings.
It’s also being proposed that public comment be moved to the beginning of meetings, right after the previous meeting’s minutes have been approved.
Also, closing comments from Council members would be limited to two minutes per council member and the meetings would start at 6 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m.
Recommended by City Administration including the Acting City Manager, Council may purchase a new pumper apparatus for the Galesburg Fire Department from Alexis Fire for $623,000.
Council documents say the purchase of a new pumper apparatus will allow the aerial unit, which costs about $2 million to replace, to be put in reserve status, greatly extending its useful life
Council members can also act on a deferred resolution to purchase two buildings from the Galesburg Rescue Mission on E. Third St for $350,000.
Some members of the council have stated a desire to buy the properties to turn them into a permanent warming shelter and possibly a homeless shelter.
A majority of the Council on May 2 wanted another month to consider this with some comparing the purchase to buying a building for a community center with out first having a plan.
Council will also vote on a resolution to declare June LGBTQIA Pride Month in the City of Galesburg.
One of the first pieces of business for the night will have the Council electing a Deputy Mayor who will preside over Council meetings that the Mayor can’t attend.