The Cicero Town Board has decided to hold all of its meetings in the morning.
The board did not have any discussion Tuesday before unanimously approving the decision, which takes effect at the next meeting, April 13.
The board has been meeting at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday and 10 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. It will now hold all board meetings at 10 a.m.
Trustee Jan Porod broached the idea two weeks ago when a night meeting ran late. The session made for a long day for employees and some trustees who begin their workday for the town as early as 8 a.m.
There were about 15 people in the audience Tuesday, including about 10 town employees. After the vote, Cicero resident Bob Alejandro, who ran against Town President Ramiro Gonzalez last year, questioned the decision.
“When is the public going to have time to come to town board meetings?” Alejandro said. “They’re all working. It doesn’t make sense.”
After the meeting, Gonzalez said Town Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and that gives residents enough time to conduct their business with town officials and employees.
“The bulk of the residents don’t address issues at the board meetings,” Gonzalez said.
Trustee John Kociolko said the public’s attendance at the meetings has been “very sparse.” And Town Attorney Dennis Both said Congress, the state legislature, county boards and the Chicago City Council meet during the day.
A woman who attended Tuesday’s meeting said she hoped the board would hold night meetings for “big issues” to accommodate people who are unable to attend a day meeting.
“Otherwise, people from the town won’t have a say-so,” said the woman, who declined to be identified but said she has lived in Cicero for 44 years.
The ordinance states that the meeting time will be 10 a.m. “unless otherwise ordered.”
