"The
Open Meetings Act"It's The American Way
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
"The
Open Meetings Act"by Dessa Rodeffer, Publisher
Recently, around Stronghurst, there has been some talk about how public meetings have been conducted at the Village Board, and if it is always important to make decisions inside a public meeting.
Not only has this been a question at the Stronghurst Board, but at times, it has been a question at other village, county, and school boards across this great nation.
When we look at large companies, like Enron, or read many of our newspaper headlines in villages just in Illinois, you will see it is a constant watch for all of us to make sure the public is being informed, and that business is being done according to the law.
It has been such a concern in Indiana, that they set up their own state department under the Attorney General's office just to see that board's were educated and comply to the Freedom Of Information and Open Meetings Act.
This is an excellent idea, for it not only gives citizens a place to call and get questions answered, but it is a place that boards can call and get the facts on how to conduct a meeting.
Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan has been addressed by the Illinois Press Association about the idea of establishing such an office.
It is not about a lack of trust in our officials as much as it is the fact that it throws up a red flag when meetings are not conducted in the open. We ask ourselves, why are things not being done under the watchful eye of the public?
Is there something questionable about the action that causes so much business to be done behind closed doors?
We have been told that it makes board members nervous to have the press at meetings, on the other hand, boards have requested that we come and cover their meetings to inform the public. What is the difference in these two types of boards?
Is it that some boards realize their obligation to the public for which they serve?
I think it is. I believe they earn the public's trust by conducting business in an open fashion, and with communication between them about the various bodies they do business with (water, sewer, streets, garbage, and in schools - curriculum, extra activities, teachers, discipline, building etc.).
Right now, the area schools are talking about consolidation issues. Those serving on various committees are educating themselves on what a good decision would be for us in the area of a future consolidated high school.
Northwest School District and La Harpe School District, from the beginning of their meetings of their "Committee Of Ten," called the newspaper to ask us to inform the public of their progress. Later public meetings will be held to talk about issues before a final decision is put on the ballot, and then a vote will be taken.
When the Henderson County Library Board was talking about the business of building a new library, the paper was invited to their meetings. Their board discussions were done in open meetings plus articles were published to inform residents. The newspapers was constantly asked to cover their meetings where their discussions were taking place
Some may think, if a decision was made outside a public meeting, and it was a good decision, what's the problem?
The problem is, it violates the Open Meetings Act, an act that protects the public's trust in a board. Any board member that doesn't take that seriously, should re-evaluate the reason they are "serving" the public.
The public expects board members to conduct business according to the law, not according to the way "they have always done it," or because it is a "good deal" it doesn't matter how they go about getting it done.
I think back to raising my teenagers, when I would tell them things must be done in a certain way, but I think I will just go along and watch to see if things were done right. They would argue that I didn't need to be there or that I didn't trust them. But, I found when I watched, things were always done more carefully than when they knew I wasn't going to be around.
This is the same reasoning, for instance, that our County Treasurer's Reports are required to be published in the newspaper.
That is the basis of "The Opens Meeting Act"... we all do better work when we know we are being watched, when the boss is in the room, when mom and dad are home, when the President of the Company is coming for a visit.
We are just less "sloppy" in how we do our work when we follow an agenda and follow the law.
If board members are asking if we trust them, ....our answer is we trust them best when business is conducted according to the law, when the public is informed, and when an open door policy for the press and for the public is the norm, and not when a "cold shoulder" is given to those who attend.
Hopefully, boards will understand that The Open Meetings Act is about an open approach with accurate and complete minutes in conducting public business.
This is the bridge that can build a trusting relationship between boards and the community they serve.
Attorney General Jim Ryan emphasizes this in his Illinois Attorney General's message regarding the Open Meetings Act. He states:
"Public participation in government and public access to its processes together form the cornerstone of our democracy.
"Openness not only encourages public involve-ment but also builds up the public's confidence in the institutions that serve them.
"Those of us who serve in positions of public trust have an obligation to promote the public's interests, especially in the encouragement of these ideals:"
Attorney General Ryan concluded by encouraging all the people:
"to apply this important law a law intended to keep open the conduct of what must always be recognized as "the people's business."
Freedom Of Information, The Open Meetings Act, Freedom Of The Press - it's the American way. And, I believe, this is a big part in what will continue to keep us the great nation we are today.