PARIS, IL (ECWd) –
In another display of complete failure of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office with timely responses to alleged violations of both the Open Meetings Act and the Freeedom Of Information Act, they have taken almost 11 months to render an opinion on something that both the complaintant and the public body agree on the facts as it related to the posting of the meeting. This is not a statement directed at the attorney who reviewed this, but a statement of the failure of Attorney General Madigan and her inability to manage the office she was elected to manage.
The other issue is the fact that the airport board and Chris Patrick lied to the Attorney General’s office about whether or not breastfeeding was even discussed at this meeting. WCIA has video (and it is online) of Jimmy Wells verifying that breastfeeding was discussed, and Ben Jenness even called an individual immediately after the meeting and told that person it was discussed.
“…the Public Access Bureau concludes that the Edgar County Airport Advisory Board violated section 2.02(a) of the Open Meetings Act by failing to provide sufficient advance notice for its November 13, 2012, regular meeting…”
Had this opinion been provided in a timely fashion, the results of the meeting where they held the secret ballot to nominate Adonna Bennett may have played out differently…
Finally, to Ben Jenness and the rest of the airport board at the time – I find it hard to believe you allowed Jimmy and Chris to lie to the AG and are willing to continue that lie by letting this stand as the official statement of the board you were on – KNOWING that breastfeeding was a topic of discussion during that meeting. Please hang your heads in shame!
[gview file=”https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Airport-foia-11-13-2012-a-g-response.pdf”]
