Evanston council recesses to executive session for city manager evaluation; allows two members to participate virtually

At its April 21 meeting, the Evanston City Council voted to allow two members to participate virtually and then recessed into an executive session to discuss the city manager's evaluation.

The council approved a motion to permit “virtual participation of 2 council members, council member Kelly and council member Burns.” Council member Hejdukides moved the motion and Council member Nussbaum seconded it. The council chair called for the ayes, and the motion passed by voice vote.

The council later moved into executive session to discuss personnel matters under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. A council member introduced a motion “pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)” to convene in executive session to discuss agenda items regarding personnel. The motion was recorded as moved by Councilman Bernusma and seconded; the council then conducted a roll-call vote. Council members Reid, Herakaris, Kelly, Harris, Wynne, New Smyrna, Burns, Suffredan and Ravel were recorded as voting aye. The ayes carried, and the council recessed into executive session.

The statute cited, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), permits executive sessions for certain personnel matters; the council did not discuss personnel details in public or disclose evaluation findings before recessing. The meeting minutes and any subsequent public actions would reflect final outcomes if the council later takes formal action on the evaluation.

Following the roll call, the council recessed into executive session as announced by the chair.