Friday, June 10, 2005
Rantoul, IL, trying to skirt Open Meetings Law?
I really thought I had been around long enough that no Open Meetings Act cases could surprise me any more.
Enter the central Illinois community of Rantoul.
Surprise!
Rantoul Mayor Neal Williams wants to restructure the way the village's Economic Development Commission is appointed, for the apparent sole and expressed purpose of hiding from the news media and the general public.
Please see this article from the Champaign, IL, News-Gazette.
This is truly one of the most blatant efforts to skirt the Open Meetings Act that I can recall.
In my role as president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, I have written the following letter to the editor to the News-Gazette. I also plan to contact Mayor Williams and other village board members directly...and, I may even attend Tuesday night's board meeting in Rantoul to speak against this proposal on behalf of INBA.
RANTOUL MAYOR: WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE?
Dear Editor:
I was shocked to read in the News-Gazette that Rantoul Mayor Neal Williams wants to restructure the village's Economic Development Commission for the sole purpose of keeping the news media - and the rest of the general public - out of the Commission's meetings.
And, he's not even being shy about it.
The mayor told the News-Gazette that perhaps Commission members will "speak a little more freely" if the press and public are excluded from meetings. "Without the press being there, the dialogue would flow instead of being guarded," he said.
Excuse me, Mayor Williams...but what are you trying to hide from the citizens of Rantoul?
This is one of the most blatant attempts to skirt the Illinois Open Meetings Act that I can recall. The Act is in place for exactly this reason...to prevent public bodies from resorting to closed-door shenanigans when shaping policy.
Why, Mr. Mayor, can Commission members speak "more freely" when the press is not in the room? Are you suggesting, sir, that Commission members will use the absence of the press and public to covertly discuss things they should NOT be discussing behind closed doors? I hope that's not what you're suggesting...but it sure sounds like it.
The only people who should ever be the least bit concerned about the Open Meetings Act are those who not playing by the rules. Public officials who adhere to the law have absolutely nothing to fear.
The Illinois News Broadcasters Association, which represents broadcast journalists across the state and serves as a watchdog for free and open government, urges the citizens of Rantoul - and all others who find this idea reprehensible - to come to the Village Board meeting on Tuesday. And, if you see Mayor Williams, go ahead and ask him:
"What ARE you trying to hide, Mayor?"
Steve Scott, President
Illinois News Broadcasters Association
(contact info provided)
Now, if you don't think this is a really big deal - and that it's no one's business outside of Rantoul - I beg to differ. If we - the press and the public - let Rantoul get away with it, other, larger cities are certain to try the same thing. Before you know it, all of the people's business will be taking place behind closed doors...with no accountability.
I'll be keeping an eye on this issue, and will keep you posted.
Enter the central Illinois community of Rantoul.
Surprise!
Rantoul Mayor Neal Williams wants to restructure the way the village's Economic Development Commission is appointed, for the apparent sole and expressed purpose of hiding from the news media and the general public.
Please see this article from the Champaign, IL, News-Gazette.
This is truly one of the most blatant efforts to skirt the Open Meetings Act that I can recall.
In my role as president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, I have written the following letter to the editor to the News-Gazette. I also plan to contact Mayor Williams and other village board members directly...and, I may even attend Tuesday night's board meeting in Rantoul to speak against this proposal on behalf of INBA.
RANTOUL MAYOR: WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE?
Dear Editor:
I was shocked to read in the News-Gazette that Rantoul Mayor Neal Williams wants to restructure the village's Economic Development Commission for the sole purpose of keeping the news media - and the rest of the general public - out of the Commission's meetings.
And, he's not even being shy about it.
The mayor told the News-Gazette that perhaps Commission members will "speak a little more freely" if the press and public are excluded from meetings. "Without the press being there, the dialogue would flow instead of being guarded," he said.
Excuse me, Mayor Williams...but what are you trying to hide from the citizens of Rantoul?
This is one of the most blatant attempts to skirt the Illinois Open Meetings Act that I can recall. The Act is in place for exactly this reason...to prevent public bodies from resorting to closed-door shenanigans when shaping policy.
Why, Mr. Mayor, can Commission members speak "more freely" when the press is not in the room? Are you suggesting, sir, that Commission members will use the absence of the press and public to covertly discuss things they should NOT be discussing behind closed doors? I hope that's not what you're suggesting...but it sure sounds like it.
The only people who should ever be the least bit concerned about the Open Meetings Act are those who not playing by the rules. Public officials who adhere to the law have absolutely nothing to fear.
The Illinois News Broadcasters Association, which represents broadcast journalists across the state and serves as a watchdog for free and open government, urges the citizens of Rantoul - and all others who find this idea reprehensible - to come to the Village Board meeting on Tuesday. And, if you see Mayor Williams, go ahead and ask him:
"What ARE you trying to hide, Mayor?"
Steve Scott, President
Illinois News Broadcasters Association
(contact info provided)
Now, if you don't think this is a really big deal - and that it's no one's business outside of Rantoul - I beg to differ. If we - the press and the public - let Rantoul get away with it, other, larger cities are certain to try the same thing. Before you know it, all of the people's business will be taking place behind closed doors...with no accountability.
I'll be keeping an eye on this issue, and will keep you posted.
