§ 34.02 TRAVEL, MEAL, AND LODGING EXPENSES FOR CORPORATE AUTHORITIES.
   (A)   This section shall comply with the requirements of the Local Governmental Travel Expense Act, being 50 ILCS 150/1 et seq., enacted as Public Act 99-0604 and effective January 1, 2017.
   (B)   For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
      ENTERTAINMENT. Includes, but is not limited to, shows, amusements, theaters, circuses, sporting events, or any other place of public or private entertainment or amusement, unless ancillary to the purpose of the program or event.
      PUBLIC BUSINESS. Expenses incurred in the performance of a public purpose which is required or useful for the benefit of the village to carry out responsibilities of village business.
      TRAVEL. Any expenditure directly incident to official travel by employees and officers of the village or by wards or charges of the village involving reimbursement to travelers or direct payment to private agencies providing transportation or related services.
   (C)   The village shall only reimburse the following types of travel, meal, and lodging expenses incurred by its employees and officers up to the following maximum allowable amounts:
      (1)   Travel: current IRS rate per mile for the calendar year of travel;
      (2)   Meal: IRS current year’s per diem for each day, alcohol is specifically excluded from this or any reimbursement; and
      (3)   Lodging: IRS current year’s per diem for each day.
   (D)   No reimbursement of travel, meal, or lodging expense incurred by a village employee or officer shall be authorized unless the “travel, meal, and lodging expense reimbursement request form,” as approved by the Village Board from time to time, has been submitted and approved. All documents and information submitted with the form shall be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, being 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.
   (E)   Expenses for travel, meals, and lodging of: any officer or employee that exceeds the maximum reimbursement allowed under the regulations adopted under division (C) above; or any member of the corporate authorities of the village may only be approved by roll call vote at an open meeting of the corporate authorities of the village. However, in the event of an emergency or other extraordinary circumstances, the corporate authorities may approve more than the maximum allowable expense set forth above.
   (F)   The village shall not reimburse any elected official, employee, or officer for any activities which would be considered entertainment. Activities which would otherwise be considered entertainment, but which are excluded from the prohibition on reimbursement due to being ancillary to the purpose of the program or event, may be reimbursed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(Ord. 16-8, passed 12-12-2016)