Village officials adapt to new FOIA laws
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
The Chatham Village Board held a 35-minute meeting Tuesday night at Municipal Hall, with all
trustees and Mayor Tom Gray in attendance.
The board dealt with several topics, including:
•Changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Illinois took effect Jan. 1, expanding the
rights of citizens in regards to requesting information from public agencies. As part of the law, the
Village is required to appoint a FOIA officer (Clerk Pat Schad) and two deputy officers (Chief John
Holm and lawyer John Myers).
Changes include a shorter time period to deal with requests, fines imposed for not dealing with
requests by a certain deadline, reduced copying fees and greater access to information.
Local village and school officials have expressed concern over the law, as have many others in the
state, due to the information that can now be given out, such as employee records and personal
information.
In some cases, ongoing investigations could be compromised, and information that has always
been considered private could now be in the hands of ordinary citizens. State officials have said the
new laws are designed to increase government accountability and transparency.
The method in which village officials can receive FOIA requests has also raised eyebrows, with
few limitations, and the clock starts ticking on that request as soon as it is received. Village officials
stressed that all employees will have to be educated on the new laws and to put the FOIA requests in
the hands of proper officials in an expeditious manner.
The changes have been described as "gotcha" laws by a number of officials, both locally and state-
wide.
•The board passed an ordinance dealing with subdivision codes in the village. The changes
involve allowing greater access for utilities to be placed at new property sites, as the current laws call
for easements that are too restrictive.
Village officials have held meetings with local developers and engineers on the matter, and there
has been acknowledgement on both sides that the revised laws will impact future developments.
The extra land needed will take away some future lots, officials said.
•The board passed two resolutions dealing with the Gordon Drive Culvert Project, which will be
done this spring. Traffic will be impacted greatly in the area, with all traffic from Glenwood Park, Ivy
Glen, Manor Hill and Hurstbourne being forced to use Gilreath Road for access to Walnut Street while
construction is ongoing.
Engineering services for the project will be provided by Greene and Bradford, and the necessary
paperwork to acquire the federal stimulus money for the project was approved.
•The board appointed Dan Holden to serve a six-year term on the Chatham Plan Commission.
Holden replaces Patti Boyce, who has retired after more than 20 years of service on the commission.
•The board heard from Lynn Pulley, a resident of Ramblewood Drive. Pulley told of a dangerous
situation occurring in his neighborhood, as three neighbors are now discharging the water from their
sump pumps directly onto the street. During the recent sub-freezing cold, water formed a massive ice
jam in the area.
Pulley said the ice jams have extended halfway across the street, onto his property and others'
property, and also have greatly impacted parking, with cars being covered and surrounded by ice.
And there are also issues in the summer time with mold and slime, he said.
"It's an enormous problem," Pulley said. "I can't even park outside my house, and people have to
drive through this on the street. I've put up with it for 18 years and something's got to be done."
To that end, Village Director Meredith Branham said there were no ordinance violations occurring,
but he suggested talking about the issue at the next committee meeting.
Village officials will try to come up with an ordinance to deal with the problem. Pulley said his
sump pump empties out on the side of his house on his own property.
•Village committee meetings will be held Tuesday, Jan. 19, beginning with Public Properties at 6 p.
m., followed by Administration and Public Works.
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
The Chatham Village Board held a 35-minute meeting Tuesday night at Municipal Hall, with all
trustees and Mayor Tom Gray in attendance.
The board dealt with several topics, including:
•Changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Illinois took effect Jan. 1, expanding the
rights of citizens in regards to requesting information from public agencies. As part of the law, the
Village is required to appoint a FOIA officer (Clerk Pat Schad) and two deputy officers (Chief John
Holm and lawyer John Myers).
Changes include a shorter time period to deal with requests, fines imposed for not dealing with
requests by a certain deadline, reduced copying fees and greater access to information.
Local village and school officials have expressed concern over the law, as have many others in the
state, due to the information that can now be given out, such as employee records and personal
information.
In some cases, ongoing investigations could be compromised, and information that has always
been considered private could now be in the hands of ordinary citizens. State officials have said the
new laws are designed to increase government accountability and transparency.
The method in which village officials can receive FOIA requests has also raised eyebrows, with
few limitations, and the clock starts ticking on that request as soon as it is received. Village officials
stressed that all employees will have to be educated on the new laws and to put the FOIA requests in
the hands of proper officials in an expeditious manner.
The changes have been described as "gotcha" laws by a number of officials, both locally and state-
wide.
•The board passed an ordinance dealing with subdivision codes in the village. The changes
involve allowing greater access for utilities to be placed at new property sites, as the current laws call
for easements that are too restrictive.
Village officials have held meetings with local developers and engineers on the matter, and there
has been acknowledgement on both sides that the revised laws will impact future developments.
The extra land needed will take away some future lots, officials said.
•The board passed two resolutions dealing with the Gordon Drive Culvert Project, which will be
done this spring. Traffic will be impacted greatly in the area, with all traffic from Glenwood Park, Ivy
Glen, Manor Hill and Hurstbourne being forced to use Gilreath Road for access to Walnut Street while
construction is ongoing.
Engineering services for the project will be provided by Greene and Bradford, and the necessary
paperwork to acquire the federal stimulus money for the project was approved.
•The board appointed Dan Holden to serve a six-year term on the Chatham Plan Commission.
Holden replaces Patti Boyce, who has retired after more than 20 years of service on the commission.
•The board heard from Lynn Pulley, a resident of Ramblewood Drive. Pulley told of a dangerous
situation occurring in his neighborhood, as three neighbors are now discharging the water from their
sump pumps directly onto the street. During the recent sub-freezing cold, water formed a massive ice
jam in the area.
Pulley said the ice jams have extended halfway across the street, onto his property and others'
property, and also have greatly impacted parking, with cars being covered and surrounded by ice.
And there are also issues in the summer time with mold and slime, he said.
"It's an enormous problem," Pulley said. "I can't even park outside my house, and people have to
drive through this on the street. I've put up with it for 18 years and something's got to be done."
To that end, Village Director Meredith Branham said there were no ordinance violations occurring,
but he suggested talking about the issue at the next committee meeting.
Village officials will try to come up with an ordinance to deal with the problem. Pulley said his
sump pump empties out on the side of his house on his own property.
•Village committee meetings will be held Tuesday, Jan. 19, beginning with Public Properties at 6 p.
m., followed by Administration and Public Works.
Chatham Clarion
 | |  | |  | |  |
Issue Date: Jan. 14, 2010