LaSalle County Salary and Labor Committee approves remote attendance, minutes and moves to closed session on collective bargaining

LaSalle County Salary and Labor Committee Chair Steve Aubrey on March 13 led the committee in unanimous votes to approve two members’ requests to participate remotely, to adopt the previous meeting’s minutes and to move into executive session to discuss collective bargaining.

The committee met March 13. Members approved remote attendance for Committee member Joe Osipinski, who cited work-related issues, on a motion by Tina Bush with a second from Kathy Bright. The committee approved remote attendance for Committee member James Bailey, who likewise cited work-related reasons, on a motion by Mike McEmery with a second from Tina Bush. Both motions passed on roll-call votes with all members present voting yes (Tom Walsh, Tina Bush, Kathy Bright, Mike McEmery, Joe Osipinski, James Bailey and Chair Steve Aubrey).

Approval of the minutes from the prior meeting was moved by Kathy Bright and seconded by Mike McEmery and carried on a unanimous voice/roll-call vote.

The committee then voted unanimously to enter executive session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act to discuss collective bargaining matters. Chair Steve Aubrey made the request for the closed session and members voted by roll call, with each member recorded as voting in the affirmative.

No substantive discussion of collective bargaining terms occurred on the public record before the executive session began. The committee did not announce an expected duration for the closed session or any public follow-up schedule at the time of the vote.

The meeting agenda items recorded in the public portion therefore consisted of (1) two remote-attendance approvals under the committee’s cited resolution, (2) approval of prior meeting minutes, and (3) a unanimous vote to hold executive session for collective bargaining.