Champaign County board receives training on Illinois Open Meetings Act duties, virtual attendance and closed-session rules

Andrew, an attorney with the Champaign County state's attorney's office, briefed the Champaign County Board on requirements of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, telling members the law “prohibits secret deliberations by public bodies” and sets standards for meeting notice, agendas, minutes and training.

The presentation, delivered to board members and staff, explained why the law matters: it ensures meetings supported by public tax dollars are open to the public and that deliberations are observable. Andrew summarized the training obligation, notice and agenda requirements, how a “meeting” is defined, rules for closing meetings, virtual attendance standards and enforcement options including complaints to the Public Access Counselor (PAC) and civil or criminal remedies.

Under the guidance, each elected or appointed member of a public body subject to the Open Meetings Act must complete the electronic OMA training curriculum once and file a certificate of completion with the public body; each public body must appoint one person to complete the training annually. The attorney recommended annual refresher training for all members even though only one designee is required to complete the course each year.

Andrew said the Act defines a meeting broadly to include in-person gatherings, telephone or video conferences and “contemporaneous interactive communication” such as instant messaging or certain email exchanges when a…