Illinois AG: Carlinville violated Open Meetings Act; Local rules do not trump State Law

On March 7, 2018, the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor issued a determination that the Carlinville City Council violated Section 2.02(c) of the Open Meetings Act during its January 2, 2018 meeting when it voted to suspend its rules and to adopt an ordinance without said ordinance being properly placed on the meeting agenda.

This one took an unusual path, but the final result is as it should be (read it below or here).

In the March 7th letter, the PAC retracted its earlier March 1st determination letter citing the fact that it “was inadvertently sent out prematurely and before the supervisory review process was complete.” The PAC further stated that “Accordingly, this office is withdrawing that premature determination and issuing the attached final determination letter in this matter.”

On January 2, 2018, the Carlinville city council had listed on its agenda, an item entitled “Ordinance Adopting Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment – First Read” – which told the public this item was for the first reading of an Ordinance and would possibly be placed on a later agenda for actual adoption through final action. However, the board actually took final action on the ordinance the night of the first read. Read more…