DuPage Co., IL. (ECWd) –
May 16, 2015, Downers Grove, Illinois.
Updated May 17 with more information…
This morning, the Downers Grove Township Refuse Committee held a meeting without posting a notice and an agenda as required by law – then tried denying they were a committee until one of their own members said she thought she was on a committee.
When watching this video, you will be amused at the variety of excuses, denials, and obfuscations (“To make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand“) by the committee members .
We will start with the facts:
Fact: The township board decided on a committee (proof here) with the citizens to discuss the best way to have trash pick-up service in the unincorporated area of the township (more proof of committee formation here)
Laura Reigle
Fact: The committee decided to have a meeting this morning
Fact: Committees of a public body, including advisory committees, must comply with the Open Meetings Act as if they were the public body – including posting a notice and an agenda at least 48 hours prior to a meeting.
Key points from the video:
Q: Where was the meeting posted publicly?
A: This isn’t a public meeting – this is a committee meeting – it’s not open to the public – it’s a working, it’s my committee – it’s an advisory meeting –
A: This isn’t a quorum – it isn’t a public body
Q: So this isn’t a committee?
A: You are confused – this is a committee, an advisory board made up of citizens
A: We are only here to take recommendations to the board
Now, while they are sitting at the board tables, they start accusing her of getting political, etc.
Committee Member: “The public doesn’t need to know”
Chairman – I’ve been on a public body for 16 years (I’m right-you’re wrong)
Other Committee member – committees that advise townships must follow the open meeting law
Chairman keeps interrupting and claiming she is wrong
Chairman then continues making excuses and blaming the citizen trying to get them to comply with the law
Committee member: I need clarification, I thought I was on a committee
Committee member doesn’t like his face or voice on camera – but the only problem is that he does not have the authority to say whether or not his face or voice is on this camera
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