Transparency, disclosure needed

On Monday, March 2, the Woodstock Board of Fire and Police Commissioners (BOFPC) held a special meeting in the police department’s conference room adjacent to Chief Lowen’s office. This is in a secure area of the police department and accessible only after passing through a locked entrance and being escorted to the second floor conference room.

On Friday, March 6, the Northwest Herald reported a DUI arrest of a Woodstock police officer in Wisconsin on Thursday, February 26, in the late afternoon. Breathalyzer tests were conducted at approximately 6:30PM on Thursday.

Assuming that the Woodstock Police Chief heard about this arrest promptly, but after the end of the business day on Thursday, how could a BOFPC meeting get called for Monday at 5:00PM, which was less than 48 hours (two business days) later?

The Illinois Open Meetings Act requires 48 hours’ notice.

Personnel matters are discussed in Executive Session of open meetings, but any decision reached by the Board or Commission in Executive Session must be announced after the end of the Executive Session, when the Commissioners return to the open meeting. If action was taken by the Board against an officer in a meeting called in violation of the Open Meetings Act, is that action legal?

In the future, meeting notices for Boards and Commissions should include the date and time posted. Timely posting provides the opportunity for the press and the public to attend.

The meetings of this Board should also be conducted as “open” meetings at City Hall, not in a secure location requiring admittance and escort. An opinion on this is being obtained from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

A Freedom of Information Act request has been made to the Police Department for the decision made at last Monday's meeting and the date/time when the meeting notice was posted publicly.