BOFPC to meet April 6

The Woodstock Board of Fire and Police Commissioners will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, April 6, 2009, at 5:00PM in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 121 West Calhoun Street, Woodstock.

The Board will finally hold an "open" meeting - one where you don't have to go through a locked door into the inner sanctum and be escorted to a second floor conference room in a secure part of a public building.

Won't it be nice if all future meetings of the BOFPC are held at City Hall, as are, I believe, all other meetings of City Boards and Commissions?

Let's listen carefully after the Board re-convenes in open session after its Executive Session. That's when they vote on any Motion to take action against any member of the police department. They can "discuss" any personnel issue in private, but they must vote in public.

Of course, that isn't how it was done on March 2, according to Minutes. And the question still remains in my mind about the March 12 meeting. Although the Minutes reflect that Commissioner Larry Howell made a motion that was then voted on 3-0, I have no recollection of that Motion and vote.

Sure wish there was a tape of that open session!

Next time there will be a tape, because I'll have it. Under the Illinois Open Meetings Act, open portions of public meetings can be recorded.

"(5 ILCS 120/2.05) (from Ch. 102, par. 42.05) Sec. 2.05. Recording meetings. Subject to the provisions of Section 8‑701 of the Code of Civil Procedure, any person may record the proceedings at meetings required to be open by this Act by tape, film or other means. The authority holding the meeting shall prescribe reasonable rules to govern the right to make such recordings."