Illinois Sen. Dan Duffy has filed this month SB3392, a bill that would require local governments with websites to post much more than many currently do. New requirements under the proposed legislation include putting online information regarding employee compensation, bids and contracts, which are documents typically sought under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).…
Tag: transparency
City Again Deprived of State of the City Address
Here’s what the mayor is supposed to do: Sec. 3.1-35-5. Mayor or president; general duties. The mayor or president shall perform all the duties which are prescribed by law, including ordinances, and shall take care that the laws and ordinances are faithfully executed. The mayor or president from time to time may, and annually shall,…
The Private Redistricting of DeKalb
The Chronicle reports today that the city has begun to redraw ward boundaries. First of all, what’s the rush? But City Manager Mark Biernacki said the council will try to get a new map approved before this October. That way, if any sitting council member finds he or she is outside of their ward’s new…
Local Government Transparency Act
A bill introduced into the Illinois Senate would establish minimum standards of transparency for local government websites. SB 37, which is scheduled for a committee hearing today, would expand upon the Illinois Policy Institute’s 10-point Transparency Checklist, with which CB’s readers are already familiar. Links: Illinois Policy Institute summary of the standards contained in SB…
‘Open and transparent’ town locks up public records as bars buy village president’s insurance – chicagotribune.com
‘Open and transparent’ town locks up public records as bars buy village president’s insurance – chicagotribune.com.
2010 City of DeKalb Website Transparency Scores
The first task was to select a grading system. The Sunshine Review Transparency Checklist seemed like a good place to start, but its City Websites wiki page lists criteria that are different from the checklist used for rankings and awards. It was confusing, and left the impression that check registers and ethics were casualties of…
AG Rules Against Release of Names of Council Members Receiving Health Insurance
Yesterday I received a letter from the Office of the Attorney General regarding its ruling on the FOIA request to release the names of council members who take the City of DeKalb’s health insurance. Click on any page of the letter to see a larger image.
Library Timeline & Pertinent Expenditures
The DeKalb Library (DKPL) board passed a resolution at the beginning of 2007 to expand and improve Library facilities. This indeed has happened; since its passage, the Library started a fund for a new boiler, accepted TIF money for window and other improvements, and remodeled the Youth Services department and the lounge. Almost immediately, however,…
It’s Still On
[Update 8/10: I’ve added my response to the city’s response after the jump.] Click on the photo of the letter if you’d like to view a larger version of it. Click here for the original Request for Review acceptance letter. Click here for the City of DeKalb’s response. Yes, I’ve responded to the response.
City’s Response to Request for Review
The following is the City of DeKalb’s response to the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor regarding its denial of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the names of Council members who participate in the City’s health insurance plan. Click on any page of the letter to see a larger image of it.