Tag: agenda

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Unit 5 will be violating the Open Meetings Act if they meet tonight

See update: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/20/unit-5-agenda-is-back-see-this-item/ By: Diane Benjamin Unit 5 has a regularly scheduled meeting tonight: https://www.unit5.org/board-of-education/annual-meeting-calendar-notice-of-public-hearings An agenda was posted yesterday because I looked at it. This morning it is missing: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/1482 . The Open Meetings Act requires an agenda to be posted for 48 hours before the meeting. It isn’t. If the agenda suddenly reappears […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal needs transparency!

By: Diane Benjamin This statement is in the Town of Normal code: No the Council can’t “waive” disclosure requirements, but that’s not the important part. The Open Meetings Act states they can’t vote on anything not disclosed 48 hours in advance. The code states the City Manger must know a week in advance what will […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Was that Shirk check illegal?

By:  Diane Benjamin Some years ago the City Council increased how much David Hales could spend without Council approval.  That Council really didn’t want to do the job of citizen watchdogs, but then we knew that. Tim Gleason is bound by that $50,000 limit too.  So how did the City write a check for $75,000 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Last night’s greatest hits:

By:  Diane Benjamin Angela Scott continues to speak the truth the City doesn’t want to hear.  Note to Chief Heffner:  speaking truth isn’t a physical threat, people noticed. If you want to know what that last statement means, attend the next Council meeting and observe. Just hit play below to hear Angela. Fast forward to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

We know what Sage is up to

By:  Diane Benjamin At last Monday’s Bloomington City Council meeting, David Sage was adamant that an agenda item signed by 6 Council members be on this Monday’s Committee of the Whole agenda.  Tari Renner attempted to stall, but it is on the agenda:  http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=15300   Instead of bringing it up Monday, it has played out in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Hudson: Non-compliance

By:  Diane Benjamin The Village of Hudson failed to post the agenda for tonight’s meeting on their website 48 hours in advance.  It was finally posted to the website sometime yesterday. Problem: The Agenda that was posted on the door of the Water Departments is different than the one now posted on the Village website!. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More Hales bungles

By: Diane Benjamin Another example of incompetence happened at the Council meeting last night.  Increasing Video Gaming fees was illegally on the agenda: Increasing fees on video gaming machines was first discussed at the April 25th meeting.  It was TABLED to a Committee of the Whole meeting : Why is “Tabled” important? City Code:  http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=262 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington: Agenda tonight

By:  Diane Benjamin Tonight’s agenda:  http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8217 1) The library union members are getting 2.25% raises for 3 years: SUBJECT: Ratification of Contract with AFSCME Local 699 for the Bloomington Public Library for the period of May 1, 2014 through April 30, 2017 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact of the Tentative Agreements includes: • Increase in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Hales October Report is out

By:  Diane Benjamin I don’t know how long it’s been on-line, but October is finally posted.  http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7640 There is a nice story about 2 City employees who noticed a bucket on fire in an open garage and put it out – saving the house!  The homeowner was home and didn’t know anything was amiss.  Nice […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington: You’ve been hijacked (Part 1)

by:  Diane Benjamin I moved to the Bloomington-Normal area in 1980.  McLean County was a solid conservative arena of small government and low taxes.  Those days are gone. When clear rules about the role of government do not exist, government makes up their own.  Even local Republicans no longer believe in limited government.  Taxpayers expect […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

The Agenda of the Left

This email was sent today.  It’s a glimpse of what the agenda, at least this group, is for the next 4 years. Dear Friend, Two big things happened in the last week, and they’re both going to require our attention for the next four years and beyond: the national election repudiated religious conservatives and handed Obama […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Stanley Wonder Wonders Again

byline: Stanley Wonder Is it just me, or is something missing at Bloomington City Hall? No, not the usual trappings of government – the podiums, microphones, gavels, and flags.  They’re all there, complete with the beautiful blue and gold of the United Nations. Huh?  The UN?  Isn’t that the organization that wants a New World […]