Steve Scott's Blog

Quickly...good news on the Rantoul/Open Meetings front. Here's the INBA press release:


NEWS BROADCASTERS APPLAUD DECISION TO KEEP RANTOUL MEETINGS OPEN

At INBA’s urging, Mayor withdraws proposal to exclude press, public from Economic Development Commission meetings

The Illinois News Broadcasters Association (INBA) is applauding Rantoul Mayor Neal Williams’ decision to withdraw his proposal to restructure the village’s Economic Development Commission for the sole purpose of excluding the press and public from Commission meetings.

Williams announced at Tuesday’s Rantoul Village Board meeting that he would keep the Commission in its current form, which allows the media and general public to attend meetings. He had earlier proposed restructuring the Commission, telling the Champaign News-Gazette that Commission members might “speak a little more freely” if reporters were excluded from meetings.

INBA President Steve Scott, who spoke at the board meeting, calls Williams’ decision to withdraw his proposal a good one.

“Mayor Williams did the right thing,” Scott said. “Perhaps his original intentions were misunderstood. But, whatever his reasons were for wanting to restructure the Commission, the bottom line is it would have resulted in closed meetings. And, that would have sent the wrong message. The people’s business must be done before the people.”

“The real winners here,” Scott said, “are the citizens of Rantoul. They will continue to be able to participate in all levels of the public process.”