Trustees discuss rules on public recording and committee seating after in‑meeting incident; plan procedural changes

Trustees discussed rearranging committee meeting locations and establishing rules for public recording after at least one trustee said a member of the public had recorded too close during a committee meeting.

Trustee Reinders described an incident that prompted the discussion and proposed holding committee meetings on the main dais to provide separation between the public and trustees and to designate an area for people who wish to record. The village attorney explained the Illinois Open Meetings Act permits members of the public to record open meetings but allows the government entity to adopt reasonable rules about where and how recordings occur to preserve decorum and safety. Examples discussed included a designated recording area and published rules in advance. Trustees asked staff to review scheduling to reduce overlapping committee meetings so more can be held at the dais, and suggested coordination with local law enforcement for enforcement in specific instances.

Ending: Staff will review committee schedules and bring proposed guidelines and room arrangements to a future meeting; the village attorney will draft possible “reasonable rules” and procedures for board consideration.