The Illinois Freedom of Information act provides that "all persons
are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs
of government and official acts and policies of those who represent
them as public officials and public employees consistent with the
terms of this Act. Such access is necessary to enable the people to
fulfill their duties of discussing public issues fully and freely,
making informed political judgments and monitoring government to ensure
that it is being conducted in the public interest." This statutory
provision applies to all information collected, assembled, or maintained
by a public body in the course of its official business that is to
be made available during normal business hours for inspection or copying.
It assures that a written request for information will receive a timely
response and allows the organization to recoup any production costs
incurred by supplying a response. The Village is committed to providing
citizens and taxpayers access to applicable public records under the
Act. The intent of this policy is to clarify the requirements and
to assist staff in the compliance of both the letter and the spirit
of the Act. The Act is not to violate individual privacy, nor to further
commercial enterprise, nor to disrupt the work of any public body.
The spirit of the Act is to minimize the restraints of information
access by limiting exceptions to the general rule that the people
have a right to know the decisions, policies, procedures, rules, standards
and other aspects of government activity that affect the conduct of
government and the lives of any or all of the people.
The Village is a municipal entity dedicated to providing its
residents and taxpayers with services for their safety, health and
environment.