The purpose of this policy is to allow members of County Board of Commissioners to attend and participate in any open or closed meeting of the Board of Commissioners by audio or video conference as permitted by the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/7, subject to the rules as set forth in this policy.
(B) MEETING
Means any open or closed meeting of Monroe County Board of Commissioners subject to the Act.
(C) QUALIFYING EVENT
Means: (1) personal illness or disability; (2) employment purposes or business of Randolph County Board of Commissioners; or (3) family or other emergency.
(D) REMOTE MEANS
Means video or audio conference.
A member of the County Board of Commissioners may attend a meeting by remote means if he or she is prevented from physically attending the Meeting due to a Qualifying Event, provided there is compliance with each of the following rules:
(A)
A quorum is physically present at the Meeting;
(B)
The member of the County Board of Commissioners seeking to attend the meeting by remote means has provided written notice to the Clerk that he or she intends to attend the meeting by remote means due to a qualifying event at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting;
(C)
The members of the County Board of Commissioners physically present at the meeting vote to approve the member’s attendance by remote means;
(D)
The remote means used for attendance is fully functional, so that both the member attending by remote means, the board physically present at the meeting and those in attendance at the meeting can clearly hear all communications;
(E)
The minutes shall reflect the attendance of the member by remote means;
(F)
Every member of the County Board of Commissioners shall identify himself/herself before speaking at meeting where a member is attending by remote means;
(G)
The member attending by remote means shall be permitted to fully participate in the meeting as though he or she were physically present;
(H)
The member attending by remote means shall announce if he or she leaves the meeting and/or returns to the meeting;
(I)
The member attending by remote means shall advise the Board if any other persons are within hearing range of the audio or video conference; and
(J)
The member attending by remote means shall ensure that during closed sessions no unauthorized persons are within hearing range of audio or video conference.
(K)
The remote policies are hereby specified in Addendums “A” and “B”.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Addendums "A" and "B" are included as attachments to this chapter.
If any provision of this Policy conflicts with any provision of the Act, the provisions of the Act shall prevail.