Burr Ridge Holds Unadvertised Meeting, Records Indicate

ELMHURST, IL – Burr Ridge's Economic Development Committee is subject to the state's open meetings law.

That means the village must inform the public about its sessions. Under the law, most business of a public body is supposed to be discussed in the open.

However, village records indicate that the Economic Development Committee held an unadvertised meeting on June 19.

An expenditure report indicates that $76 was spent at Patti's Sunrise Cafe in Burr Ridge for an item labeled "EDC Meeting."

According to the village's website, the last advertised meeting of the committee was April 5. Two meetings in July were canceled.

Recently, Burr Ridge received a public records request for all correspondence related to the June 19 meeting and any documents showing who attended the session, where it was held and what happened.

In response, the village provided the expenditure report with the restaurant item and a credit card receipt. But the response included no correspondence.

On Monday, Patch emailed Village Administrator Evan Walter seeking information on the meeting. He did not respond.

It's possible that less than a majority of the committee attended the meeting. In that case, the meeting would not be in violation of the open meeting law.

Earlier in the summer, expenditure items listed as either "Trustee Breakfast" or "Trustee Meeting" were questioned. The village explained the spending.