Letter to the Editor

Letter: Fourth Ward Resident Tells Aldermen Not to Betray Public Trust a Second Time

City of Elmhurst was deemed in violation of the Open Meetings Act. The city must release the records of those meetings because it has "an overarching ethical duty to the public."

Dear Acting Elmhurst Mayor and Aldermen: As you know, the Public Access Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s office has recently determined that the City of Elmhurst was in violation of the Open Meetings Act during closed session meetings on Sept 10 and Sept 17, 2012.  The improper discussions evidently involved the Addison Street development project, now under active consideration by the Zoning Commission. The City has responded to the notice of violation by asserting that it was “advised that the topics discussed were proper under the exemptions to the Open Meetings Act.”  Based on the opinion of the Attorney General’s office, it seems that the City was poorly advised. Furthermore, despite City protestations to the contrary, the …

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Attorney General's Office: Aldermen Violated Open Meetings Act with Closed Talks About Addison Project

Alderman Paula Pezza brought the complaint to the AG's Office, which says the city must release recordings and closed session minutes involving the Addison Avenue project in order to resolve the violation.

UPDATE: Thursday, Feb. 28 Both 3rd Ward Alderman Michael Bram and 1st Ward Alderman Diane Gutenkauf have gone on record stating that they were against discussing in closed session the items referred in the Attorney General's ruling that the city of Elmhurst violated the Open Meetings Act. "I am one of the aldermen that contested and challenged this discussion that was held behind closed doors," Bram said. "When the tapes come out it will be clear that I questioned the rationale for discussing some of those items under closed session." And, Gutenkauf released the following statement via email: I attended the meetings in question and I am on record speaking out against discussing these important matters behind closed doors. The transcripts, …

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Jim Court

8:21 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013

I would "Seriously" vote for you ! You have a very rational and logical thought process.   more ›