Open Illinois.org

Would you like your local government to improve its process for going into closed session? Could your government’s process be more open than it is now? Liberty Leaders in Champaign proposed the following resolution to the County of Champaign. You can use this language as a model for your own transparency laws or resolutions at the village, township, city, and county levels, and with school, library and park district boards.

A RESOLUTION TO MODIFY THE PROCEDURE FOR GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION

WHEREAS, the Illinois Open Meetings Act states that “The provisions for exceptions to the open meeting requirements shall be strictly construed against closed meetings”; (5 ILCS 120/1) and

WHEREAS, it also states that “The exceptions authorize but do not require the holding of a closed meeting to discuss a subject included within an enumerated exception (5 ILCS 120/2(b); and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Champaign County desire their government to be as open as possible,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Champaign County Board members will be given a written description of all topics to be considered in closed session at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting and in sufficient detail to allow an informed decision as to whether the topic should be handled in closed session.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any decision to go into closed session must be approved by at least two-thirds of the members present, which rule may not be suspended.

This resolution shall become effective at the first County Board meeting following adoption of this resolution.