Tag: Open meetings Act

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: Remember the Executive Session Stan Nord wasn’t allowed to attend by phone?

Update: PDF page 87 got fixed. Everything else still applies however: By: Diane Benjamin Review this story for details: https://blnnews.com/2022/09/09/village-of-normal-discriminates-against-stan-nord/ And this story: https://blnnews.com/2022/09/20/breaking-news-the-truth-about-stan-nord-and-the-executive-session/ Below is the original notice of this meeting – it was held on a Friday, not after a regular meeting like usual. https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4416 Jump to the documents for Monday’s meeting: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4557 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal meets anyway

By: Diane Benjamin Follow-up to this story: https://blnnews.com/2022/01/25/illegal-meeting-normal/ Introduction to the Open Meetings Act Law: (5 ILCS 120/1)(from Ch. 102, par. 41)    Sec. 1. Policy. It is the public policy of this State that public bodies exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business and that the people have a right to be informed as to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

District 87 violates the Open Meetings Act

From Edgar County Watchdogs: https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2021/06/bloomington-school-district-87-violates-open-meetings-act/?fbclid=IwAR2P_UP6DP2sdvB6N_rnszJdn1zMDt00TU7kr5UfkCT3FABVn9fTFeryjFQ Excerpt: Bloomington School District 87 has been violating the Open Meetings Act by demanding people reveal their home addresses in order to participate in public comment. The Illinois Attorney General has already issued multiple opinions, at least as far back as 2014, stating that requiring addresses to speak, or even to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Tired of being lied to in Normal?

By: Diane Benjamin Chris Koos knows he has nothing to run on. Instead of discussing issues he clipped and chopped comments made by Marc Tiritilli before Rivian incentives were approved by the Normal Town Council. Koos wants you to believe Tiritilli was against Rivian buying the plant when Marc was actually against taking money from […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Chris Koos: Desperato

By: Diane Benjamin Remember the Eagles song Desperato? That should be the Chris Koos theme song. He has NOTHING to run on so he is now personally attacking Marc Tiritilli instead of addressing the issues. Chris is a divisive leader because he knows people don’t want the things he wants. Marc Tiritilli is running to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: 2 things ISU might not want you to see

By: Diane Benjamin Susan Kalter: Hopefully this is the last story about Susan Kalter. See all previous stories here: https://blnnews.com/2020/09/16/isu-did-susan-kalter-lie/ I made a final attempt to determine if Kalter was lying about being told by an ISU lawyer the All Facility meeting didn’t have to comply with the Open Meetings Act. I was told she […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

ISU: Did Susan Kalter lie?

By: Diane Benjamin It takes FOREVER to receive FOIA’s, so now you have to think back. Susan Kalter is the chair of the Academic Senate at ISU. She wanted to hold a faculty meeting that wasn’t open to the media and didn’t comply with the Open Meetings Act. See all previous stories here: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/28/susan-kalter-explain-your-meeting-to-the-attorney-general/ In […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

UPDATE:  Normal’s illegal code

The Open Meetings Act applicable section was amended effective 1/1/2013.  That’s more than 7 years ago! _____________________ By:  Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal under the current leadership prefers to make up their own laws.  The most obvious example is their illegal public comment policy. Here’s another one: http://normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/7697/Chapter-03—Council-Meetings-and-Ordinances?bidId= What does the Open Meetings Act […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Susan Kalter: Explain your meeting to the Attorney General

By:  Diane Benjamin See previous stories: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/16/looks-like-a-revolt-at-isu/ https://blnnews.com/2020/07/20/isu-when-you-hear-from-the-attorney-general-just-plead-guilty/ Today I was notified by the Public Access office of the Attorney General they are going to investigate whether the first faculty meeting violated the Open Meetings Act. Excerpts: See the entire document I received:  63926 FI Letter When Kalter or ISU responds the Attorney General’s office […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

ISU: When you hear from the Attorney General just plead guilty

By:  Diane Benjamin I have filed a Request for Review with the Attorney General’s office based on this meeting held by Dr. Susan Kalter, the Chair of the Academic Senate at ISU:  https://blnnews.com/2020/07/16/looks-like-a-revolt-at-isu/ Part 2 was supposed to happen tonight to finish what didn’t get done last Thursday.  Tonight’s meeting has been postponed indefinitely, the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Connect Transit: Empty Buses and Brains

By:  Diane Benjamin After NOT posting the Agenda for today’s meeting 48 hours in advance as required by the Open Meetings Act (LAW!), yesterday Connect moved the meeting and thought people would magically know:    https://www.connect-transit.com/about/trustees/cttf_working_group/agendas.asp No surprise, they didn’t have enough people for a quorum, some members of the public went to the wrong […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: Normal’s ILLEGAL Public Comment policy

I have been informed Stan Nord sent the two pics below to Pam Reece.  She responded with what the Town lawyer sent to the Attorney General in response to Karyn Smith Request for Review.  The Town claims they read the law – the Attorney General Open Meetings Act training is immaterial.  See the response here:  Town […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal denies another speaker 1st Amendment rights

By:  Diane Benjamin Karyn Smith is still waiting for a ruling from the Attorney General from when she was denied the right to speak to the Normal Council about the mural – because it wan’t on the agenda.  See this story:  https://blnnews.com/2019/02/28/ag-investigating-town-of-normal-again/ The Attorney General is supposed to rule within 90 days, but this is […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: If Connect Transit meets tomorrow – they will be breaking the law

Meeting is rescheduled to June 4th. By:  Diane Benjamin From the Connect Transit website – they have a monthly meeting scheduled for tomorrow: https://www.connect-transit.com/about/trustees/packet.asp The agenda MUST be posted 48 hours in advance to comply with the Open Meetings Act.  It isn’t posted, therefore they must cancel the meeting: Did they fail to post it […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal’s unreported retreat

By:  Diane Benjamin On November 2nd Normal held a Strategic Planning Session.  It was a Friday at 10:00 am in the Executive Board Room at City Hall.    http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3105 Did any citizens know about or attend this meeting?  Did the press report on it? Keep in mind, Trustee RC McBride is the General Manager of […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

County holds an illegal meeting!

By:  Diane Benjamin This morning the McLean County Board held a meeting without announcing it.  Is the Open Meetings Act too difficult to understand? Notice of ALL meetings most be posted 48 hours in advance along with the agenda.  This morning they held a legislative breakfast for the entire Board AND State Senators Bill Brady, Jason […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal: Investigated and sued

By:  Diane Benjamin The Attorney General’s Public Access office is investigating the Town of Normal for a meeting they held on January 18th.  No agenda was posted for this meeting.  That is a violation of the Open Meetings Act because the public was not notified this meeting was going to take place. The only information […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Quit giving your address!

By:  Diane Benjamin Some public bodies still ask you to state your address before speaking during Public Comment.  You are not required to according to the law. See this 2014 opinion from the Illinois Attorney General’s office:    http://foia.ilattorneygeneral.net/pdf/opinions/2014/14-009.pdf This paragraph sums up the decision: The Town of Normal and the Unit 5 School Board need […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Nope, Laws don’t matter!

By:  Diane Benjamin http://www.normal.org/Archive.aspx?AMID=47 Anybody see an agenda posted for yesterday’s meeting? According to the dead tree the Normal Town Council held a budget workshop yesterday.  In the TWO stories they did, 5 of the 7 Council members are mentioned.  Five is more than half, meaning it was a meeting.  Open Meetings Act violation #6345.  […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Unit 5 – story corrections

By:  Diane Benjamin The spontaneous Executive Session was not held on November 13th, it was held on November 8th at the end of a regular meeting.  It was held in response to some disgruntled parents. The Board briefly recessed, hopefully not to discuss whether to hold an Executive Session.  Holding any discussions outside of a […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

UPDATE: Unit 5 Board: Illegal meeting

See corrections in this story:  https://blnnews.com/2018/01/11/unit-5-story-corrections/ By:  Diane Benjamin I wish my kids had been coached by Darren Hess.  The parents who spoke at last night’s School Board meeting proved Hess was a great mentor and role model for the players and their families.  Great coaches don’t happen often, supporters are crushed to lose this one.  […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

“Welcoming Ordinance” Glitch

By:  Diane Benjamin Not In Our Town didn’t care when the mayor of Bloomington abused numerous citizens with vile comments.  They didn’t care when he attacked an elected alderman.  He used his position to intimidate people with different opinions.  How is that any different than Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose, and Harvey Weinstein?  Because sex isn’t […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

It’s confirmed: Laws Don’t Matter!

By:  Diane Benjamin Laws most likely broken by the Town of Normal Council don’t matter because prosecutions need a prosecutor.  The citizens of Normal don’t have one! In case you forgot the facts, see this story:  https://blnnews.com/2017/11/16/normal-your-government-is-fixed/ Basics: The Town held a Secret meeting (Executive Session) on August 11th at 9:30 in the morning. The meeting […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal: Your government is FIXED

By:  Diane Benjamin The citizens of Normal probably already knew “outsiders” aren’t allowed to participate in their government, how many Trustees have quit during their term so the Mayor could appoint a replacement?  The last Mayor did the same thing so incumbents have an edge in the next election.  I expect Chris Koos to do […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Another Victory!

By:  Diane Benjamin Laws don’t seem to matter to our Public Servants unless they are forced to follow them.  Maybe that’s human nature, kind of like everybody is speeding so I might as well too. But this offense meant there was no written record of what happened at meetings.  The offender was the McLean County […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Chambers needs to explain

By:  Diane Benjamin I’ve contacted the States Attorney’s office several times about public corruption cases.  I recently received this email from one of their interns: Got that?  Seems pretty clear – the States Attorney’s office doesn’t do investigations! Now see this Pantagraph story about the tragic deaths yesterday:  http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/police-chief-fatal-fire-appears-intentionally-set/article_77246b93-85ee-5e69-a96b-6de3fbc09d18.html Excerpt from the story: Maybe Jason […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal: Blatant illegal meeting(s)

By:  Diane Benjamin It’s getting harder and harder to see that ANY laws matter, at least for government.  Officials can twist facts, feign illness, and violate the law knowing nobody is going to prosecute.   The Town of Normal Council is doing their part Tuesday night: I don’t know if this “planning session” has taken […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

County OMA non-compliance

By:  Diane Benjamin The Open Meetings Act is pretty simple.  It was written to keep government from hiding their actions from the people paying the bills.  This is the 1st paragraph: Part of the OMA pertains to meeting documentation:   Evidently the County skipped this section, at least with the Zoning Board of Appeals. From […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Library investigated for OMA

By:  Diane Benjamin Remember the two illegal meetings held by the library board because they weren’t posted 48 hours in advance?  https://blnnews.com/2017/06/20/followup-illegal-meetings/ Keep in mind I notified both the Sheriff and the State’s Attorney’s office prior to the meetings, they did nothing to stop the crime of violating the Open Meetings Act.  Law for government […]