Illinois Statutes Chapter 65. Municipalities § 97/15. 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.  1