Home Rule
Final Report Available
The Final
Report was completed in late December and distributed
to the Village Board on January 5, 2007. The committee met on
a regular basis from June 2006 through December 2006. The nine
member committee voted 5-4 in favor of home rule.
The report consists of a majority opinion and four minority
opinions. Also included is an appendix of materials reviewed
by the committee and an Issue Summary that outlines the possible
benefits and potential negative impacts associated with the use
of home rule authority.
Board to Appoint Group to Study Home Rule
The Village Board, at its April 10th meeting, agreed to form
an ad-hoc resident group to independently study the question
of whether Home Rule status should be considered for the Village.
President Paris has asked each member of the Board to suggest
two nominations for potential membership in this study group.
In addition, the Village is seeking residents who by their
experience, education or interest
would be qualified to serve with this group and assist in its
study.
If interested, please complete the Volunteer
Form and mail it to the attention of
the Village President at
Village Hall.
The Village President intends to offer his recommendations
for Board consideration of the committee members no later
than the May 8, 2006 Board meeting.
Informational Material
In its simplest terms, home rule is a broad and flexible grant
of authority to local governments. Traditionally, cities
and villages have been able to exercise only the powers specifically
given to them by law, either in the state constitution or
in
state statutes. In Illinois, as in other states, such grants
of power have been narrowly interpreted by the courts. In
accordance with a legal doctrine called “Dillon’s Rule,” the
courts have held that local government powers are limited to
those powers expressly granted by law or indispensably related
thereto. Where there was any question about a government’s
authority to act, the courts typically would rule against
the government.
Under home rule as defined in Illinois, however, a government
can exercise any power "pertaining to its government
and affairs" that has not been specifically denied
to it by state or federal law. When there is a question about
a home rule government’s authority to act, the matter
may be ruled upon by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Reference Materials are listed below:
Home Rule Guidebook - 8/25/2005
(PDF File - 1.26MB)
Section 1 - 3 part series published in the Illinois
Municipal Review - 9/7/2005 (PDF
File - 952KB)
Section 2 - legal article published in the Illinois
Municipal Review - 9/7/2005 (PDF
File - 935KB)
Section 3 - 8 part series published in the Illinois
Municipal Review - 9/7/2005 (PDF
File - 5.5MB)
Section 4 - home rule analysis - 9/7/2005 (PDF
File - 2.2MB)
Possible Uses - 9/7/2005 (PDF
File - 51KB)
Galena nixes Home Rule - 9/6/2005 (PDF
File - 261KB)
Summary of October
26, 2005 presentation made by James Banovetz, PhD (PDF
File - 25.9MB)
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