McLean County Times

The Bloomington Election Commission violated the Open Meetings Act (OMA) twice in December through improper posting of meeting agendas, the Illinois attorney general determined recently. 

The letter presenting the findings has been posted on Illinois Leaks, the website of the Edgar County Watchdogs.

The first violation occurred on December 5, when the panel failed to post an agenda or the location of a meeting it was holding that day. According to the Open Meetings Act, government entities must post agendas at least 48 hours prior to a meeting to ensure the public has the opportunity to see what will be discussed. While the attorney general decided the meeting broke the law, it did not require remedial action.

The electric commission also violated the OMA on December 9, when it voted to take final action on items that were not clearly delineated in the meeting agenda. The attorney general has told the panel vote again on those items.

The attorney general determined that the closed door meeting on December 5 did not violate the OMA because the panel said it met only to discuss a retirement party.