The DeKalb City Council has received a lot of attention lately after 7th Ward Alderman Mark Powell started making accusations that the council is a “rubber stamp” for proposals.

But because of Powell’s continual disruptions of meetings and attacks on fellow council members, no one listens to the issues he raises. However, concern that any governmental body passes proposals without due consideration is legitimate.

The issue that the council might pass ordinances hastily should be considered. Laws require two votes in two meetings to be passed. When a law is passed by the council at a “first reading,” it requires a second vote at the next council meeting for final approval.

It is the policy of the council, however, to waive second readings on many laws and pass them in one meeting. Unless a law is controversial, the council usually will approve it in one meeting.

Approving laws in this manner is more efficient. If the law is so mundane that no one would object to it, then the council is justified to pass it in one meeting. However, the public should have the right to review the specific language of laws before they are passed and go into effect.

Passing laws in the first meeting should be the exception rather than the rule. A law might not appear to cause controversy when it is passed at a first reading, but afterward someone might read the proposed law and object to it or raise questions about it. Everyone should have the right, whether they use it or not, to read the law before it is passed.

Often the city council will discuss laws under the term “considerations” at the meeting before passage. But a consideration does not contain the exact wording of the law. Further, the council might change the parts of the proposed law during a consideration. Council members should think twice before passing any laws in one meeting.