From the Village Manager in response to my question on what the requirements are for official Village meetings (my characterization):
*there is an Illinois law called the 'Records Act' that governs meetings record keeping++
*minutes are required for all meetings; and are supposed to be approved by the Board (not sure if the 2nd is a state requirement)
*live TV broadcast or taping and rebroadcast is not required by the Act; Riverside tries to provide this service when possible
*for public hearings, the VM tries to have a court reporter for verbatim transcripts
(btw a court reporter cost has ranged between $220 to $1223 per meeting, depending on length of meeting and the court reporter.+
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+ my aside: I like the court reporter and verbatim transcripts, even tho expensive. it is so convenient to pass around to people, review, examine, and evaluate.
In this day and age of video everywhere, I think we should lobby springfield for video tape at a minimum to be required for any village meeting. broadcast would be the next best thing.
++ I could not find something called the Records Act, but I did find the Open Meeting Act...see link here
http://tinyurl.com/2kpu3x
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=84&ChapAct=5%26nbsp%3BILCS%26nbsp%3B120%2F&ChapterID=2&ChapterName=GENERAL+PROVISIONS&ActName=Open+Meetings+Act%2E
(5 ILCS 120/2.06) (from Ch. 102, par. 42.06)
Sec. 2.06. Minutes.
(a) All public bodies shall keep written minutes of all their meetings, whether open or closed, and a verbatim record of all their closed meetings in the form of an audio or video recording. Minutes shall include, but need not be limited to:
(1) the date, time and place of the meeting;
(2) the members of the public body recorded aseither present or absent and whether the members were physically present or present by means of video or audio conference; and
(3) a summary of discussion on all matters proposed,deliberated, or decided, and a record of any votes taken.
(b) The minutes of meetings open to the public shall be available for public inspection within 7 days of the approval of such minutes by the public body. Beginning July 1, 2006, at the time it complies with the other requirements of this subsection, a public body that has a website that the full—‘time staff of the public body maintains shall post the minutes of a regular meeting of its governing body open to the public on the public body's website within 7 days of the approval of the minutes by the public body. Beginning July 1, 2006, any minutes of meetings open to the public posted on the public body's website shall remain posted on the website for at least 60 days after their initial posting.