CLARK CO. (ECWd) –
The Clark County Park District Board of Commissioners had scheduled their board “retreat” – a public meeting – for this morning at 9:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Marshall, Illinois.
When I arrived, I informed the board that the meeting location was not convenient to the public, and the District had failed to post notice of the meeting 48 hours in advance, at the location of said meeting.
After Larry Yargus accused me of “harassing” them, and a phone call to the district’s attorney, who was initially not receptive to the idea, the attorney did finally state that the meeting was not in compliance with the Open Meetings Act (“OMA”).
The board then made the correct decision to cancel the meeting.
My opinion in this is that it is not hard to follow the requirements of the OMA, and that meetings of a public body should never be held in a place of worship – even if it is in a conference room of that place of worship. It diminishes the sanctity of the church, and should be offensive to all those attending.
Edit to correct title of office
