Tag: Public Access

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

Breaking News: The Truth about Stan Nord and the Executive Session:

By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Stan Nord was denied the right to participate remotely in an off-schedule Executive Session? https://blnnews.com/2022/09/09/village-of-normal-discriminates-against-stan-nord/ Stan wasn’t allowed to participate because it was an illegal meeting to discuss the referendum. Pam Reece knew Stan Nord was unavailable the day of the meeting, she scheduled it that day on purpose, then […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

District 87 gathered information on YOUR kids

By: Diane Benjamin Schools can not use surveys to gather information on students without the permission of parents: https://blnnews.com/2022/05/16/know-your-childs-rights/ Did they get YOUR permission before doing an invasive survey using Panorama? https://blnnews.com/2022/04/20/district-87-and-panorama/ District 87 refused to give me a summary of the results, I doubt I even received the complete survey. The Illinois Attorney General’s […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

District 87 and Panorama

By: Diane Benjamin In 2020 District 87 spent $21,700 on: Social-Emotional Learning is now law in Illinois. The Illinois State Board of Education keeps changing the standards, see this link for the current plan from Kindergarten through 12th grade: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/sel-stds.pdf#search=social%20emotional See the bottom right-hand corner of page 1. These standards don’t expect teachers to be […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

NINE things you need to know

By: Diane Benjamin 1) Bloomington met for 2 1/2 hours last night, Normal met for over 3. Take a break for other news, I sure need a break! I watch the meetings for those who can’t. Also, my inbox was in serious need of cleaning. 2) Remember Vision Zero? https://blnnews.com/2021/06/30/vision-zero/ The goal is to have zero traffic […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Tari Renner and Council still guilty

By: Diane Benjamin Remember when the Attorney General’s Public Access office found Bloomington guilty of violating the Open Meetings Act concerning the Metro-Zone agreement with Normal? https://blnnews.com/2017/06/07/laws-are-immaterial/ That was in 2017. The City of Bloomington appealed the decision, the Circuit Court ruled in their favor, but the Appellate Court just reversed that decision: See the […]

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

The Attorney General Ruled!

By:  Diane Benjamin You have to laugh at bureaucrats!  The Attorney General’s Public Access office just sent me a final determination pertaining to Jeff Fritzen’s bike present courtesy of Chris Koos. It took less than a month.  A few days ago I posted the Town’s response to the AG in this story:  https://blnnews.com/2020/04/13/koos-bike-present-violated-town-code/ Keep in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Koos’ bike present violated Town Code

By:  Diane Benjamin I previously reported the Town of Normal couldn’t find any communication for Chris Koos’ purchase of a bike from his shop to give to Trustee Fritzen.  I also reported I filed a Request of Review with the Attorney General’s Public Access office:  https://blnnews.com/2020/03/27/remember-that-bike-fritzen-got/ Fritzen’s party was held on April 23, 2019.  Fritzen […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Remember that bike Fritzen got?

By:  Diane Benjamin Somehow retiring Normal Trustee Jeff Fritizen ended up with a big party and a bike the Town purchased from Mayor Chris Koos’s bike shop. Since inquiring minds want to know, I FOIA’d the Town of Normal for all communication about the bike.  In this story I printed the Town answer:  https://blnnews.com/2020/03/09/one-more-on-jeff-fritzens-bike/ They […]

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

McBride proves why he shouldn’t be a Trustee

By:  Diane Benjamin The WGLT story about last night’s Normal Town Council meeting doesn’t mention RC McBride voted for the water rate increase:    http://www.wglt.org/post/water-fee-increase-solar-group-buy-making-repeat-appearances-normal Readers are left to surmise he did. This one is worse: I reported this story back on February 28:    https://blnnews.com/2019/02/28/ag-investigating-town-of-normal-again/ WJBC reported it on March 4:    http://www.wjbc.com/2019/03/04/normal-mayor-probed-for-alleged-open-meetings-act-violations/?fbclid=IwAR0mVvQsAVBRPrRVSWllpx_YPGc2YvMk0iHXYXWS0AWvxrBG0FXLxYbmvCg The […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

AG Investigating Town of Normal AGAIN

BY;;  Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal continues to have an illegal public comment policy.  Normal was forced to change the policy in 2017 when the Attorney General told them they can not have a policy that allows a citizen to only speak every 45 days.  Instead of slapping the Town’s entire policy into oblivion, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

100% Transparent Tari? Proof you aren’t!

By:  Diane Benjamin If you missed Tari’s State of the City address last Monday you can see my recap and listen to it here:   https://blnnews.com/2019/01/15/taris-state-of-the-city/ Recycling his talking points, Tari once again proclaimed the Illinois Policy Institute “continues” to give the City an A+ transparency score. Disregarding IPI discontinued the program in 2014, their transparency […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why even Democrats should vote for GOP for the next Attorney General

By:  Diane Benjamin The current Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, will fortunately by gone next January.  She persecuted (no I don’t mean prosecuted) businesses in Illinois while allowing public corruption to flourish.  Her Public access office just did it again. First see this post: I totally agree – this meeting should have been publicly announced. An […]

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

BREAK Normal’s Attitude!

By:  Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal doesn’t want citizens showing up at meetings like they do in Bloomington.  That is the reason their Public Comment policy requires citizens to sign up 2 hours before a meeting, not just walk in a fill out a card. Remember the November 6, 2017 meeting where your property […]

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

Hilarious Jason Chambers

By:  Diane Benjamin Yesterday’s paper had a front-page story concerning a filing by Jason Chamber’s office with the Attorney General for Open Meeting Act violations.  He has been waiting 17 months for a determination.  The story claims his office can only prosecute violations for 18 months. First, Welcome to our world Jason!  The request filed […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

When Lawyers Don’t Care About the Law

By:  Diane Benjamin Long time readers know finding a prosecutor is almost impossible.  Public corruption prosecutions must be demanded by many people before equal justice under the law actually exists. Then there is McGrath Law Office in Mackinaw.  These guys represent many small units of government who evidently aren’t capable of reading the Open Meetings […]

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 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Zero Transparency, ISU, and more

By:  Diane Benjamin The Bills and Payroll the Council approved for payment last night have never been posted on the City website:  http://www.cityblm.org/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-500 I wonder if the council was given a paper version or if they just approved spending without knowing what the voted on?  Keep in mind – these are the same people who […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Laws are immaterial

By:  Diane Benjamin The ruling by the Attorney General’s Public Access office against the City of Bloomington is completely meaningless.  Read the entire ruling here:  17-004 The only penalty for the Bloomington City Council violating the Open Meetings Act by holding an illegal Executive Session is: The tape of the meeting must be released The […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Koos, Council: Shut up citizens!

By:  Diane Benjamin Last night the Normal Town Council defied the Attorney General’s letter and made only minor changes to their Public Comment Policy.  They relied on the opinion of their City Attorney Brian Day who formerly worked for the Illinois Municipal League. First, you need to understand what the IML is.  See this story:  […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Koos, Media – you can quit pretending now

By:  Diane Benjamin For months Normal Mayor Chris Koos has been pretending with the help of media that changing the Town’s Public Comment Policy is his idea. It wasn’t! Today the Attorney General’s Office issued an opinion that slaps him around on numerous counts. (Did the AG suddenly start doing their job?  Maybe!) Craig Stimpert […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Do laws matter? Who knows

By:  Diane Benjamin I filed yet another Request for Review with the Attorney General’s office asking them to investigated the Executive Session where the Council decided to disband Metro Zone.  The conversations should have taken place in public, not behind closed doors.  The City claimed “Probably Litigation” as the excuse for holding a secret meeting […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Renner’s Big Mouth

By:  Diane Benjamin Is the Metro Zone fight between Bloomington and Normal REAL, or a campaign stunt? I’m leaning toward real. Side Note: Normal’s budget for 2016-2017 was more than $120 MILLION.  The estimated $1.2 million Normal would lose from Metro Zone represents 1% of their total budget.  The Normal Town Council had no problem […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal issues a GAG order

By:  Diane Benjamin Last December I wrote about Normal”s Public Comment policy:  https://blnnews.com/2016/12/06/normals-illegal-public-comment-policy/ At least two citizens of Normal filed Requests for Review with Lisa Madigan’s Public Access office asking her to rule on their policy.  I asked one of them if I could print both what the Town of Normal claimed and his response.  […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Is the Pantagraph trying to reelect Koos?

By:  Diane Benjamin Yesterday the Pantagraph wrote this story:  Normal Seeks AG’s Opinion On Public Comment I wonder where they got the idea for the story! Did Chris Koos call them and say “I’ve got a story for you”?  Mark Peterson? The only reason Normal is considering changing their Public Comment policy is because at […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Remember when Judy Stearns walked out . . .

By:  Diane Benjamin It was way back in November of 2013 when Judy Stearns walked out of what she called an illegal Executive Session (Secret Meeting). She filed a Request for Review with Lisa Madigan’s Public Access office – they didn’t bother doing much with the filing until Judy was long out of office.  She […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Since Lisa Madigan failed in 2014 . . .

By:  Diane Benjamin A few weeks ago I wrote about an Open Meeting Act violation Lisa Madigan’s Public Access office was asked to review.  It was filed in 2014 against the Bloomington Election Commission and evidently lost because no ruling was made until I asked for the resolution.  First they claimed the number I provided […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Lisa Madigan Fail: Bloomington Election Commission

By:  Diane Benjamin Back in 2014 one of the guys that filed challenges to petitions for candidates in Bloomington knew the Bloomington Election Commission wasn’t following the law as required by the Open Meetings Act.  Bruce Meeks filed a Request for Review with Lisa Madigan’s Public Access Office.  In February 2014 the Attorney General decided […]