OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Cook County Rules and Administration Committee Meeting - March 11, 2026

Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, March 11, 2026
BodyCook County, Illinois
SessionBoard of Commissioners
DateWednesday, March 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

With the hour having reached 9 30 a.m.

0:04

I'd like to call to order the meeting of the Cook County Rules and Administration Committee.

0:08

Madam Secretary, please read the role.

0:10

Thank you, Chairman.

0:11

Commissioner Naya.

0:13

Commissioner Britton.

0:15

Commissioner Daly.

0:17

Vice Chair Degner.

0:18

Present.

0:19

Commissioner Miller.

0:21

Absent.

0:22

Commissioner Marita.

0:26

Is absent.

0:27

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

0:29

Present.

0:29

Commissioner Scott.

0:30

Present.

0:32

Chairman is present.

0:33

Present.

0:33

Chairman, let me revisit those that did not respond.

0:36

Commissioner Naya is absent.

0:38

Commissioner Britton.

0:40

Absent.

0:41

Commissioner Miller.

0:42

Absent.

0:43

Commissioner Marita.

0:45

Absent.

0:46

Chairman, you do have a quorum.

0:48

Thank you.

0:48

Any additions to the agenda?

0:50

I have no changes to your agenda, sir.

0:52

Public speakers.

0:53

Two one speaker for this meeting, George Blakemore.

0:57

Mr.

0:57

Blakemore.

0:58

Let me remind you of the rules for speaking before the board.

1:01

Persons authorized to provide public testimony shall not use vulgar abusive, discriminatory, profane, or otherwise inappropriate language when addressing the body.

1:09

Failure to act appropriately or fail to adhere to the time requirements may result in expulsion from the meeting and or disqualifying the person from providing future testimony.

1:20

Please begin, sir.

1:27

Good morning.

1:28

Good morning.

1:30

A question was asked.

1:32

What is the purpose of the rules committee?

1:35

They say all the rules will be made coming to uh concerning what's going on the business.

1:46

The rules, they give you the impression that you all follow the rules and make rules that's legal.

1:57

It should be a rule like you see what Mr.

2:01

Daly is doing while I'm talking.

2:04

You should have a rule that once the public come and speak, all your attention should be focused on listening to the public.

2:20

However, if they fail to do this, you are on the rules.

2:25

You're the head of the rules committee.

2:27

You must hit on that thing.

2:29

Bam, bam, bam, bam.

2:31

Order here.

2:32

Order here.

2:34

This is out of order.

2:37

And it's going on in the city and in the county.

2:42

Both.

2:44

And in the state level and the federal rules.

2:50

You all have rules for the citizens.

2:55

But you don't obey your own rules when you make them up.

3:00

One rule once you are public servant.

3:04

You don't serve the Democratic Party.

3:07

You don't serve the Republican Party or the Liberal, the Social Party.

3:11

You serve the people.

3:14

You are servants.

3:16

Look up the definition of a servant.

3:20

Look it up.

3:21

So that's why it's very important for me to come to these meetings.

3:27

You are public servants.

3:31

And your job is to serve the public.

3:34

We are not supposed to serve you.

3:37

You represent us.

3:39

We pay you.

3:43

And some of you have made this a career.

3:48

They asked me this question.

3:49

Mr.

3:50

Blakemore, what do you think that you could suggest to improve government?

3:54

Term limitations.

3:56

One minute.

3:57

Some of you have been here too long, like Mr.

4:00

Daly here.

4:02

Too long.

4:03

You become comfortable.

4:05

You become arrogant, and you become greedy.

4:11

For the money.

4:12

And you lose your mission.

4:15

As a public servant.

4:17

30 seconds.

4:18

No, Mr.

4:18

Blakemore.

4:19

You can speak.

4:20

Chairman, that's the only speaker for this meeting.

4:22

Thank you.

4:23

Would you please add Commissioner Naya to the role?

4:25

Yes, sir.

4:28

Vice Chair Degner now moves to approve item 26-0964.

4:32

The committee meetings from the meeting held on January 14, 2026, seconded by Chairman Daly.

4:38

All those in favor say aye.

4:39

Aye.

4:40

All opposed?

4:41

The opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.

4:42

Chairman Daly now moves to approve item 26-0784.

4:47

The Journal of Proceedings for the regular meeting held on January 15, 2026.

4:51

Seconded by Commissioner Scott.

4:53

Any questions, comments?

4:57

Hearing none seeing none.

4:58

All those in favor say aye.

5:00

All opposed?

5:00

In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.

5:02

Chairman Daly now moves to approve item 26-0785.

5:06

The Journal of Proceedings for the consent calendar meeting held on January 15, 2026.

5:11

Seconded by Commissioner Sean Morrison.

5:13

Any questions, comments?

5:14

Hearing none seeing none.

5:15

All those in favor say aye.

5:17

All opposed?

5:18

In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.

5:24

Commissioner Scott now moves to approve item 26-0933.

5:29

The Journal of Proceedings for the regular meeting held on February 5th, 2026.

5:32

Seconded by Commissioner Naya.

5:34

Any questions or comments?

5:36

Hearing none seeing none.

5:37

All those in favor say aye.

5:38

All opposed?

5:39

In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.

5:41

Vice Chair Degnan now moves to approve item 26-0934.

5:45

The Journal of Proceedings for the consent calendar meeting held on February 5th, 2026.

5:50

Seconded by Commissioner Scott.

5:52

Any questions or comments?

5:53

Hearing none seeing none.

5:54

All those in favor say aye.

5:56

Aye.

5:56

All opposed.

5:57

In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.

5:59

Having no further business before this committee.

6:06

All opposed, we adjourned.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
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Summary of Proceedings

Cook County Rules and Administration Committee Meeting - March 11, 2026

The Cook County Rules and Administration Committee convened on March 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. to review committee minutes and conduct a brief public comment session. A public speaker addressed the committee regarding government accountability and term limits, while the committee unanimously approved the ratification of three previous committee meeting journals and proceedings.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes from the committee meeting held on January 14, 2026 (Item 26-0964), moving by Vice Chair Degner and seconded by Chairman Daly.
  • Approved the Journal of Proceedings for the regular meeting held on January 15, 2026 (Item 26-0784), moving by Chairman Daly and seconded by Commissioner Scott.
  • Approved the Journal of Proceedings for the consent calendar meeting held on January 15, 2026 (Item 26-0785), moving by Chairman Daly and seconded by Commissioner Sean Morrison.
  • Approved the Journal of Proceedings for the regular meeting held on February 5, 2026 (Item 26-0933), moving by Commissioner Scott and seconded by Commissioner Naya.
  • Approved the Journal of Proceedings for the consent calendar meeting held on February 5, 2026 (Item 26-0934), moving by Vice Chair Degnan and seconded by Commissioner Scott.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • George Blakemore expressed full support for term limits, stating that some members "have been here too long" and have become "comfortable, arrogant, and greedy for the money."
  • The speaker expressed strong opposition to the committee members' perceived failure to obey their own rules regarding public attention and political neutrality, arguing that public servants should serve the people rather than specific political parties (Democratic, Republican, or Social).
  • The speaker expressed a position that the committee should enforce a rule requiring all members to focus their attention on the public once they begin speaking.
  • The Chairman interrupted the speaker twice to enforce order and time limits, ultimately cutting off the speaker after three minutes due to the one-minute time limit reminder.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimously adopted the minutes and journals for five previous meetings (January 14, January 15 consent, January 15 regular, February 5, and February 5 consent).
  • Adjourned the meeting with no further business.

Attendance Discrepancy Note

  • The initial roll call recorded Commissioner Naya, Britton, Miller, and Marita as "Absent," while later adding Naya to the role upon instruction and confirming a quorum. The transcript contains conflicting records regarding the final status of Commissioner Naya's presence versus the initial absence report.

Meeting Transcript

With the hour having reached 9 30 a.m. I'd like to call to order the meeting of the Cook County Rules and Administration Committee. Madam Secretary, please read the role. Thank you, Chairman. Commissioner Naya. Commissioner Britton. Commissioner Daly. Vice Chair Degner. Present. Commissioner Miller. Absent. Commissioner Marita. Is absent. Commissioner Sean Morrison. Present. Commissioner Scott. Present. Chairman is present. Present. Chairman, let me revisit those that did not respond. Commissioner Naya is absent. Commissioner Britton. Absent. Commissioner Miller. Absent. Commissioner Marita. Absent. Chairman, you do have a quorum. Thank you. Any additions to the agenda? I have no changes to your agenda, sir. Public speakers. Two one speaker for this meeting, George Blakemore. Mr. Blakemore. Let me remind you of the rules for speaking before the board. Persons authorized to provide public testimony shall not use vulgar abusive, discriminatory, profane, or otherwise inappropriate language when addressing the body. Failure to act appropriately or fail to adhere to the time requirements may result in expulsion from the meeting and or disqualifying the person from providing future testimony. Please begin, sir. Good morning. Good morning. A question was asked. What is the purpose of the rules committee? They say all the rules will be made coming to uh concerning what's going on the business. The rules, they give you the impression that you all follow the rules and make rules that's legal. It should be a rule like you see what Mr. Daly is doing while I'm talking. You should have a rule that once the public come and speak, all your attention should be focused on listening to the public. However, if they fail to do this, you are on the rules. You're the head of the rules committee.

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