On March 16, Governor J.B. Ptitzker entered Executive Order No. 5. That order, in addition to ordering that restaurants and bars could not serve food or drinks to patrons for on-site consumption and banning gatherings of more than 50 people, made some changes to the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
The Executive Order also suspended the provisions of the Open Meetings Act that required that aldermen, school board members or other members of a public body be physically present at the public body’s meetings, and the conditions limiting when remote participation is permitted were suspended. The waivers remain in effect for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, which went into effect earlier this month.
“Public bodies are encouraged to postpone consideration of public business where possible, “says the Order. “When meeting is necessary, public bodies are encouraged to provide video, audio, and/or access to the meetings to ensure members of the public may monitor the meetings, and to update their websites and social media feeds to keep the public fully apprised of any modifications to their meeting schedules or the format of their meetings due to COVID – 19, as well as their activities relating to COVID – 19.”
The District 65 School Board issued a notice of a meeting to be held tonight, March 17, at 5:30 p.m. to consider a resignation agreement of a school principal. The notice states the meeting will be held by “conference call,” in accord with the Executive Order.