Civil Service Commission Meeting
Regular MeetingUrbana, IL · October 28, 2020
Minutes
URBANA CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
DATE: Wednesday, October 28, 2020
TIME: 4:00 P.M.
PLACE: *Held virtually due to Governor’s Stay at Home order
The Urbana Civil Service Commission met in regular session on Oct. 28, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Commissioners physically present: None
Commissioners present virtually: Marion Knight, Thomas Betz, and Traci Nally.
Staff present virtually: Femi Fletcher, Human Resources Generalist; Liz Borman, Human Resources
Manager; Lorrie Pearson, Community Development Director; and Jason Liggett, UPTV Station Manager.
Others present remotely: Christopher Hansen.
Proceedings
Commissioner Knight called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and Ms. Borman recorded the minutes. A
quorum of commissioners were present, and the meeting, having been duly convened, was ready to proceed
with business.
Approval of Minutes
Staff presented to the Commission the minutes of the June 24, 2020 meetings of the Commission for approval.
Motion duly made by Commissioner Betz and seconded by Commissioner Nally, and carried by roll call vote
as follows:
Aye: Knight, Nally, Betz
Nay: None
Public Participation
Input via Zoom
Christopher Hansen commented on the City’s rules for public input at meetings, the City’s requirement for
background checks as a requirement for positions, requested a statement or discussion on the focus of City
positions (specifically whether positions are focused on serving the City’s interests or the public’s), and
requested clarification on the City’s mission, vision, and values.
Action Items
A. – B. Request to modify Economic Development Coordinator job description and Request to
add Economic Development Supervisor position
Staff explained that the Community Development Services Department is undergoing a reorganization.
As part of this effort, modifications to the ED Coordinator position were requested, as well as replacing
the appointed Economic Development Manager position with an Economic Development Supervisor
position that would be in the classified service. Some of the higher-level duties performed by the ED
Manager would be assumed by another position. Staff clarified that both positions were currently
vacant, although an employee is currently serving as interim ED Supervisor. Commissioner Nally moved
approval and Commissioner Betz seconded, and carried by roll call vote as follows: Aye: Knight, Betz,
and Nally. Nay: None.
C. Request to modify Tool Room Attendant/Parts Clerk job description
Femi Fletcher presented the request to modify the Tool Room Attendant/Parts Clerk. Staff explained
that two part-time positions had been restructured into one full-time position, and a subsequent
Civil Service Commission Meeting Minutes
October 28, 2020
department reorganization led to the requested modifications. Commissioner Betz moved approval and
Commissioner Nally seconded, and carried by roll call vote as follows:
Aye: Knight, Betz, Nally. Nay: None
D. Request to reschedule regular November meeting date to Nov. 18, 2020
Staff requested to reschedule the next regular meeting date from November 25 to November 18, 2020.
Commissioner Nally moved approval and Commissioner Betz seconded, and carried by roll call vote as
follows: Aye: Knight, Betz, Nally. Nay: None.
Informational and Discussion Items
Commissioner Betz asked if there was protocol for addressing questions from the public. Commissioner
Knight responded that his understanding was that if the question relates specifically to the commission, then
it might be addressed, but matters outside of the scope of the commission’s responsibility or legal matters
should be addressed by the appropriate party. Commissioner Betz noted that while two attorneys are
members of the commission, they do not represent the City or the commission.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Borman, Recording Secretary
Agenda
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, notice is hereby given that the Civil Service
Commission of the City of Urbana will hold a regular meeting.
DATE: Wednesday, October 28, 2020
TIME: 4:00pm
PLACE: *to be held virtually via Zoom
AGENDA
1. Call to order and roll call.
2. Approval of minutes: July 29, 2020
3. Public comment
4. Action items
A. Request to modify Economic Development Coordinator job description
B. Request to add Economic Development Supervisor position
C. Request to modify Tool Room Attendant/Parts Clerk job description
D. Request to reschedule regular November meeting date to Nov. 18, 2020
5. Informational items
6. Adjournment.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Persons with a disability may request a reasonable
accommodation by contacting Elizabeth Borman, in writing at 400 S. Vine Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801; by telephone
at 217‐384‐2459, or by email at eeborman@urbanaillinois.us. Notification of at least 48 hours prior to the meeting
or time when services are needed will assist the City staff in assuring that reasonable arrangements can be made to
provide accessibility to the meeting or service.
I hereby certify that the agenda for the above stated meeting(s) was posted at the Urbana City Building, 400 S. Vine St., on
Monday, Oct. 26, 2020.
Elizabeth Borman
Attest: Elizabeth Borman, Human Resources Mgr.
*Due to the Governor and Mayoral Emergency Covid-19 Orders, Commission members will meet
remotely using Zoom, and anyone can attend virtually via Zoom. Additional instructions are below. For
those wishing to provide public input, please email your statement to Elizabeth Borman at:
eeborman@urbanaillinois.us by the start time on the date of the meeting. Your statement will be read into
the record per public input rules. Public input also may be provided via Zoom.
When: Oct 28, 2020 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Civil Service Commission
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83628073516
Or iPhone one‐tap :
US: +13126266799,,83628073516# or +13017158592,,83628073516#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1
253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799
Webinar ID: 836 2807 3516
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kchFqxUQhe
PUBLIC INPUT GUIDELINES
The City of Urbana welcomes Public Input during open meetings of the City Council, the City Council’s
Committee of the Whole, City Boards and Commissions and other City-sponsored meetings. Our goal is
to foster respect for the meeting process, and respect for all people participating as members of the
public body, city staff, and general public. The City is required to conduct all business during public
meetings. The presiding officer is responsible for conducting those meetings in an orderly and efficient
manner.
Public Input will be taken in the following ways:
Zoom Webinar Participant
Click on the link listed in the agenda to join the Webinar. You must provide your name and email
address in order to join the Webinar. If you wish to speak during Public Input, “raise your hand” and
wait to be called on by the meeting host. You must state your first and last name for the meeting record.
Participants will be muted except when they are called on to speak; video will remain off for all members
of the public when speaking.
Telephone Participant
Call the phone number listed on the Agenda. Enter the Webinar ID followed by the # key. All callers are
muted by default. If you wish to speak, “raise your hand” by pressing *9 once. When you are called on
by the host or presiding officer, you will be un-muted. You must state your first name and last name for
the meeting record.
Email Input
Public comments must be received prior to the closing of the meeting record (at the time of
adjournment unless otherwise noted) at the following: eeborman@urbanaillinois.us. The subject line of
the email must include the words “PUBLIC INPUT” and the meeting date. Your email will be sent to
the Civil Service Commissioners. Emailed public comments labeled as such will be incorporated into the
public meeting record, with personal identifying information redacted. Copies of emails will be posted
after the meeting minutes have been approved.
Written Input
Any member of the public may submit their comments addressed to the members of the public body in
writing. If a person wishes their written comments to be included in the record of Public Input for the
meeting, the writing should so state. Written comments must be received prior to the closing of the
meeting record (at the time of adjournment unless otherwise noted).
Verbal Input
Protocol for Public Input is one of respect for the process, and respect for others. Ridicule, obscene or
profane language, lack of respect for others, and personal attacks are not acceptable behavior. Public
Input shall not be used to air personal grievances. Speakers should address all comments to the public
body as a whole and not to individual members or City staff.
Public comment shall be limited to no more than four (4) minutes per person. The Public Input portion
of the meeting shall total no more than one (1) hour, unless otherwise shortened or extended by majority
vote of the public body members present. The presiding officer or the city clerk or their designee, shall
monitor each speaker's use of time and shall notify the speaker when the allotted time has expired. All
public comments should be addressed to the public body as a whole. A person may participate and
provide Public Input once during a meeting and may not cede time to another person, or split their time
if Public Input is held at two (2) or more different times during a meeting. The presiding officer may give
priority to those persons who indicate they wish to speak on an agenda item upon which a vote will be
taken.
The presiding officer or public body members shall not enter into a dialogue with citizens. Questions
from the public body members shall be for clarification purposes only. Public Input shall not be used as
a time for problem solving or reacting to comments made but, rather, for hearing citizens for
informational purposes only.
Accommodation
If an accommodation is needed to participate in a City meeting, please contact the Human Resources
Manager at least 48 hours in advance, or as soon as practicable, so that special arrangements can be made
using one of the following methods:
• Phone: 217.384.2459
• Email: eeborman@urbanaillinois.us
*In order to maintain reasonable decorum at a meeting, the presiding officer or any member of the
public body may call a speaker “out of order”. The presiding officer of the meeting shall have the
authority to provide a verbal warning to a speaker who uses abusive, harassing, threatening, or
defamatory language, or who engages in disorderly conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes
the orderly conduct of a meeting. If the speaker refuses to cease such remarks or conduct after being
warned by the presiding officer, the presiding officer shall have the authority to mute the speaker’s
microphone and/or video presence at the meeting. The presiding officer will inform the speaker that
they may send the remainder of their remarks via email to the public body for inclusion in the meeting
record.
*Definitions of Types of Language and Conduct That May Warrant Verbal Warning:
“Abusive” means harsh, violent, profane, or derogatory language which would demean the dignity of an
individual or which is intended to humiliate, mock, insult or belittle an individual.
https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/abusive-language
“Harassing” means to annoy or bother someone in a constant or repeated way; to make repeated
attacks on another person.
https://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/harass
“Threatening” means to say that you will harm someone or do something unpleasant or unwanted
especially in order to make someone do what you want.
https://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/threaten
“Defamatory” means a statement or communication that tends to harm a person's reputation by
subjecting the person to public contempt, disgrace, or ridicule, or by adversely affecting the person's
business. A statement that is likely to lower that person in the estimation of reasonable people and in
particular to cause that person to be regarded with feelings of hatred, contempt, ridicule, fear, or dislike.
Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019)
Citations that Authorize the Presiding Officer to Bar Offensive Language During Public
Comment:
The following citations provide the legal basis for adopting UCC Section 2-5(b)(1)(d) that allows the
presiding officer of a City Council, Committee of the Whole, or a City-sponsored board or commission
regulate “abusive, harassing, threatening, or defamatory language” during public comment. The
following Attorney General binding opinions and case law essentially classify abusive, “harassing,
threatening and defamatory language as “manner”, not “content”, of speech that can be reasonably
regulated under the First Amendment. UCC Section 2-5(c) (Ordinance No. 2020-09-049. Attorney
General binding opinion numbers 2019 PAC 59187, 2018 PAC 55462, 2016 PAC 45349; Milestone v. City
of Monroe, Wisconsin, 665 F.3d 774, 783-784 (7th Cir. 2011); Vega v. Chicago Board of Education, 338
F.Supp.3d 806, 811 (N.D. Ill. 2018); Sandefur v. Vill. of Hanover Park, 862 F.Supp.2d 840, 847 (N.D. Ill.
2012); I.A. Rana Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Aurora, 630 F.Supp.2d 912, 920-923 (D.C. N.D. 2009).
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