Loda village clerk orders phones, recording devices turned off, violating law, Chronicle says in complaint –

Loda, Ill. (ECWd) –

From the Ford County Chronicle:

LODA — The Ford County Chronicle has filed a request for review with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office alleging that Loda Village Clerk Regina Ptacek, a candidate for village trustee in next April’s election, violated the state’s Open Meetings Act when she instructed trustees and the public to turn off and put away all electronic devices, including phones and audio-recording equipment, to start the village board’s Dec. 11 meeting.

Under the Open Meetings Act, “any person may record the proceedings at meetings … by tape, film or other means,” with government bodies able to “prescribe reasonable rules to govern the right to make such recordings.”

However, the request for review filed Thursday by Ford County Chronicle Publisher Will Brumleve alleges that Ptacek violated the law when she instructed all members of the public and all trustees to turn off their electronic devices and remove them from view. The measure, Ptacek said during the meeting, was to limit “distractions.”

The estimated 15 members of the public in attendance complied with those directions, Village Trustee Sandy Coffey said. However, Coffey, who is also a correspondent for the Ford County Chronicle, said she did not comply, as she continued to record the meeting using an audio device.

Village Attorney Dale Strough was present at the meeting but made no comment when Ptacek gave the instructions. Strough also did not immediately respond to an emailed message seeking comment.

When reached Thursday, Ptacek said she was instructed by other village officials to give the directive, which she said was allowed by both village ordinance and Robert’s Rules of Order. . . Continue reading (paywall here) – well worth the small online subscription cost to support this local newspaper…