by:  Diane Benjamin

Laws are only for us little people, not the guys sucking your tax money.

In another episode of releasing Executive Session (Secret Meetings) minutes, this gem was obtaining under the Freedom of Information Act:  h/t JS

From October 10, 2011

The Executive Session was called to order at 5:02 p.m. Mayor Stockton cited the Executive Session topic, CLAIMS SETTLEMENT – SECTION 2 (c) (8).

David Hales, City Manager requested an agenda change. The order would be Claims Settlement, Litigation and Purchase or Lease of Real Estate. He requested each topic be limited to ten (10) minutes.

The Executive Session law CLEARLY states that topics to be discussed must be posted 48 hours prior to the meeting.  Note that Mayor Stockton stated the purpose of the meeting.

David Hales then changed the agenda while in Executive Session – illegal!

Here’s the law:

(5 ILCS 120/2.02) (from Ch. 102, par. 42.02)
    Sec. 2.02. Public notice of all meetings, whether open or closed to the public, shall be given as follows:
    (a) Every public body shall give public notice of the schedule of regular meetings at the beginning of each calendar or fiscal year and shall state the regular dates, times, and places of such meetings. An agenda for each regular meeting shall be posted at the principal office of the public body and at the location where the meeting is to be held at least 48 hours in advance of the holding of the meeting.

The City Attorney at the time, Todd Greenburg, was present.  All Council members and City staff, including David Hales, are required to take Open Meetings Act training.

Citizens are told they can’t just do whatever they want.  Somebody needs to tell David Hales and all City staff, including Aldermen, they aren’t allowed to do whatever they want either.

You can read these minutes here:  ex101011partial release

How can we expect to live in a civil society when laws don’t matter to the guys governing?

What other laws is David Hales breaking?

 

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