This Elmhurst D-205 Official Made 'Girlfriend' Comment

ELMHURST, IL – Behind closed doors in 2019, Elmhurst school board members expressed apparent frustration with a local watchdog who pushed them to follow government openness laws.

On Wednesday, Patch reported that a resident filed a complaint that he was the victim of discrimination because he did not have a girlfriend.

He pointed to a comment during a closed Elmhurst school board meeting on April 23, 2019.

Patch has listened to the recording of the Elmhurst School District 205 board's closed meeting on April 23, 2019.

The board was discussing a statement it would make in response to the latest salvo in its battle with the city of Elmhurst over stormwater issues. (The city and district have since healed the rift.)

Board President Kara Caforio could be heard saying that the board had better get something right or it may draw a complaint from watchdog Edgar Pal.

A board member noted Pal may file a public records request.

Then board member Jim Collins, apparently referring to Pal, said someone should "find him a girlfriend."

Another board member laughed.

The recording of the half-hour closed meeting was released in November because of Pal's efforts. In 2019, he filed a complaint with the attorney general about the board closing its doors.

In his complaint, Pal said it was against the law for a public body to hold a closed session to discuss its differences with another government entity. The attorney general sided with Pal, so the district released the recording in November.

This was Pal's second victory over the school board on open meeting issues. In December 2019, a judge approved a settlement between Pal and the district over a June 2018 closed meeting in which the board discussed an administrative reorganization plan.

In that case, the attorney general found in 2018 the district violated the state's open meetings law by holding the closed session.

The attorney general recommended the district release its recording, but the district declined. So Pal sued.

In the settlement, the board decided to release the recording in question and cover Pal's legal bills, which amounted to about $4,000.

The board is allowed to discuss specific employees in a closed meeting, but not general personnel issues.

Pal has scored a number of victories on open government issues in recent years. He lived in Elmhurst, but has since moved to Chicago.

Wednesday's story about the "girlfriend" comment documented the complaint filed with the district and the board's response.

The district's public records blacked out the name of the person who filed the complaint. The documents also did not identify who made the "girlfriend" remark.

Collins and Pal couldn't be reached for comment.