Monday, May 19, 2008

Out of Order, Off the Record

Via Division Street:
An investigation by Chicago Talks and published jointly with The Beachwood Reporter shows that the Chicago City Council’s committees frequently meet without quoroms and conduct business anyway, a clear evasion of the law that could make the full council’s actions subject to legal challenge.
So our city council isn't conducting their business properly. Here's more from the link at The Beachwood Reporter:

The shuffling of papers and the quiet murmur of small talk broke the silence of the nearly empty Chicago City Council chambers as a handful of city staffers filed in for a Traffic Control and Safety Committee meeting Dec. 5, 2007.

Of the 14 members assigned to the committee, only three showed up that morning: committee Chairman Patrick O'Connor (40th), Ald. Bernard Stone (50th) and Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd).

The trio sat at the front table facing the empty chamber's 50 seats and listened as City Clerk Miguel del Valle presented a measure aimed at curbing counterfeit city stickers. The aldermen asked a few questions, then voted to approve the measure to raise fines for counterfeiters. The knock of the gavel ended the meeting in less than 20 minutes.

It would seem this meeting went off without a hitch.

Except for one thing: The aldermen broke state law, experts say.

According to the Illinois Open Meetings Act, a public body like this committee must have "a majority of a quorum," or a minimum number of members present for public business to be discussed or voted on, said Heather Kimmons, assistant public access counselor for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

At the traffic committee meeting, for instance, five members had to be present to comply with Illinois law.

Go read the whole thing. There are other examples!

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