CALUMET CITY | An alderman who voted last month against three measures related to early retirement packages said Thursday he did so because he was not given adequate information or time to study the proposal.

Seventh Ward Alderman Antoine Collins used the City Council meeting to explain his votes from the meeting Jan. 28, saying he had received phone calls in recent weeks from area residents who interpreted his action as an unwillingness to address the issue.

Aldermen usually are given a packet of documents relevant to the meeting agenda two days prior to the Thursday meeting. In this case, the information about early retirement measures was not available until the day of the meeting, and Collins said he did not get his materials until just before the meeting began.

"I usually try to read everything twice before the meeting," Collins said. "I couldn't do that this time."

Collins said he has requested the city clerk's office supply aldermen with relevant materials on the Friday before a Thursday meeting.

City Clerk Gloria Dooley said she would try to comply with that request, but said City Council materials often are not given to her until just before a meeting, even though the council's agendas clearly state a deadline for materials to be presented for the next board meeting.

For the next City Council meeting Feb. 25, that deadline is noon Feb. 19.

"That last meeting is nobody's fault," Dooley said of the early retirement materials, claiming she presented them to aldermen as quickly as she could after receiving them. "This is a circle we have to go around occasionally."

First Ward Alderman Eddie Gonzalez said it would have been appropriate for Collins to ask for a recess during the meeting to give him time to review materials. The early retirement measures ultimately were approved by five of the seven aldermen.

"It would not be odd to request a recess to ask questions," Gonzalez said. "I agree, don't vote on something that you're not familiar with."