(A) Recitals.
(1) On January 1, 2007, Public Act 94-1058, amending the Open Meetings Act took effect and amended the definition of a “meeting” to mean “Any gathering, whether in person or by video or audio conference, telephone call, electronic means (such as, without limitation, electronic mail, electronic chat, and instant messaging), or other means of contemporaneous interactive communication, of a majority of a quorum of the members of a public body held for the purport of discussing public business,” and it permits attendance of members of the public body at public meetings by a means other than physical presence; and,
(2) To permit attendance by a means other than physical presence, the Council of the City of Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, must adopt rules that conform to the requirements and restrictions of the Open Meetings Act, ILCS Ch. 5, Act 120, § 7; and,
(3) The corporate authorities of the City of Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, desire to permit attendance of members of the public body by means other than physical presence in compliance with the Open Meetings Act; and,
(4) The corporate authorities of the City of Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, find that it is necessary that any existing ordinances, resolutions, or policies be amended to conform with the term “meeting” to include electronic gatherings as defined in Section 120.1.02 of the Open Meetings Act.
(B) Adoption of Rules. The Council of the City of Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, hereby adopts the Electronic Attendance at Meetings Rules, set forth in division (C) of this section, that permit a member of the public body to attend any meeting of the public body as defined in the Open Meetings Act via electronic means.
(C) Electronic Attendance at Meetings Rules.
(1) Rules Statement. It is the decision of the City of Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, that any member of the City Council may attend any open or closed meeting of the City Council via electronic means (such as by telephone, video, or internet connection), provided that such attendance is in compliance with these rules and any applicable laws.
(2) Prerequisites. A member of the City Council of the City of Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, may attend a meeting electronically if the member meets the following conditions: A quorum is physically present throughout the meeting and a majority of the Council members votes to approve the electronic attendance at the meeting.
(a) The member should notify the City Clerk at least two days before the meeting, unless impractical, so that necessary communications equipment can be arranged. Inability to make the necessary technical arrangements will result in denial of a request for electronic attendance.
(b) The member must assert one of the following reasons why he or she is unable to physically attend the meeting:
1. The member cannot attend because of personal illness or disability; or
2. The member cannot attend because of employment purposes or the business of the City of Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois; or
3. The member cannot attend because of a family or other emergency.
(c) The City Clerk, after receiving the electronic attendance request, shall inform the City Council of the request for electronic attendance.
(3) Voting procedures. After a roll call establishing that a quorum is physically present, the presiding officer shall call for a motion that a member may be permitted to attend the meeting electronically after specifying the reason entitling the absent member to attend electronically. The motion must be approved by a vote of a majority of the members present.
(4) Adequate equipment required. The member participating electronically and other members of the City Council must be able to communicate effectively, and members of the audience must be able to hear all communication at the meeting site. Before allowing electronic attendance at any meeting, the City Council shall provide equipment adequate to accomplish this objective at the meeting site.
(5) Minutes. Any member attending electronically shall be considered on off-site attendee and counted as present electronically for that meeting. The meeting minutes shall also reflect and state specifically whether each member is physically present or present by electronic means.
(6) Rights of remote member. A member permitted to attend electronically will be able to express his or her comments during the meeting and participate in the same capacity as those members physically present, subject to all general meeting guidelines and procedures previously adopted and adhered to. The member attending electronically shall be heard, considered, and counted as to any vote taken. Accordingly, the name of any member attending electronically shall be called during any vote taken, and his or her vote counted and recorded by the Clerk and placed in the minutes for the corresponding meeting. A member attending electronically may leave a meeting and return as in the case of any member, provided the member attending electronically shall announce his or her leaving and returning.
(7) Committees, boards, and commissions. These rules shall apply to all committees, boards, and commissions established by authority of the City of Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois.
(Ord. O-2007-12, passed 10-8-07)