By: Diane Benjamin
Illinois State University’s Public Comment policy used to be even worse than the Town of Normal. Not any more!
See the new policy here: http://illinoisstate.edu/trustees/comment.php
The policy is:
- Sign up before the meeting
- Public Comment lasts up to 30 minutes
- Speakers get 5 minutes
There is no 45 day rule before you can speak again. There is no rule about speaking to agenda items.
This is what Public Comment policy should be!
Why did they change it?
A citizen filed a Request for Review on January 29, 2017. On February 6, 2017 the Attorney General’s Public Access Office called her AND wrote the letter below. ISU was copied on the letter.
Let that soak in a minute!
Public Access is notorious for taking many months to many years to rule – this was handled in a week!
See the entire letter HERE
Here is the important part:
Illinois State University did exactly what the AG suggested – reasonable limitations.
The Town of Normal should do the same thing immediately.
See this story – so far they don’t care:
https://blnnews.com/2017/02/20/normal-issues-a-gag-order/
