(65 ILCS 97/15)
Sec. 15.
Creation of Commission.
(a) Whenever, within the Pilot Project Area, the question of creating a
neighborhood security patrol program within a contiguous territory consisting
of at least 10 precincts included entirely within the Pilot Project Area is
initiated by resolution or ordinance of the corporate authorities of the
municipality or by a petition signed by not less than 10% of the total number
of registered voters of each precinct in the territory, the registered voters
of which are eligible to sign the petition, it shall be the duty of the
election authority having jurisdiction over the municipality to submit the
question of creating a neighborhood security patrol program to the electors of
each precinct within the territory at the regular election specified in the
resolution, ordinance or petition initiating the question. If the question is
initiated by petition and if the requisite number of signatures is not obtained
in one or more of the precincts included within the territory described in the
petition, then the petition shall be valid as to the territory encompassed by
those precincts for which the requisite number of signatures is obtained and
any such precinct for which the requisite number of signatures is not obtained
shall be excluded from the territory. A petition initiating a question
described in this Section shall be filed with the election authority having
jurisdiction over the municipality. The petition shall be filed and objections
thereto shall be made in the manner provided in the general election law. A
resolution, ordinance, or petition initiating a question described in this
Section shall specify the election at which the question is to be submitted.
The referendum on such question shall be held in accordance with general
election law. The question, and the resolution, ordinance, or petition
initiating the question, shall include a description of the territory, the name
of the proposed neighborhood security patrol program, the maximum rate at which
the neighborhood security patrol program shall be able to levy a property tax,
and whether the security patrols shall be armed. All of that area within the
geographic boundaries of the territory described in the question shall be
included in the program, and no area outside the geographic boundaries of the
territory described in such question shall be included in the program. If the
election authority determines that the description cannot be included within
the space limitations of the ballot, the election authority shall prepare large
printed copies of a notice of the question, which shall be prominently
displayed in the polling place of each precinct in which the question is to be
submitted.
(b) Whenever a majority of the voters on such public question approve the
creation of a neighborhood security patrol program as certified by the proper
election authorities, the mayor of the municipality shall within 60 days after
certification appoint, with the consent of the corporate authorities, 7
individuals, to be known as commissioners, to serve as the governing body of
the neighborhood security patrol program. The mayor shall choose one individual
at his discretion to serve on the governing commission and 6 individuals from
nominees submitted by a community organization or community organizations as
defined in this Act. Nominations shall be submitted to the mayor within 30 days
after certification. If the appointments are not made by the mayor within 60
days after certification, the Governor shall appoint the commissioners with the
advice and consent of the Senate. A community organization may recommend up to
20 individuals to serve on a governing commission.
No fewer than 5 commissioners serving at any one time shall reside
within the territory of the program.
Upon creation of a governing commission, the terms of the initial
commissioners shall be as follows: 4, including the individual appointed at
the mayor's discretion, shall serve for one year and 3 shall serve for 2 years
and until a successor is appointed and qualified. All succeeding terms shall
be for 2 years, or until a successor is appointed and qualified. No
commissioner may serve more than 2 consecutive terms, except that the 4 initial
commissioners who serve an initial one year term may serve 3 consecutive terms.
Commissioners shall serve without compensation except for reimbursement for
reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of duties as a commissioner. A
vacancy in the office of a member of a commission shall be filled in like
manner as an original appointment.
All proceedings and meetings of the governing commission shall be
conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meetings Act.
(Source: P.A. 88-439.)
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