Elmhurst Eyes Greater Openness With Residents

ELMHURST, IL – Three Elmhurst aldermen are asking their colleagues to consider recording the meetings where most of the City Council's debates happen – in committee.

Now, the council video records its regular meetings. By the time issues reach the full council, they have been hashed out, so discussions are minimal.

As a result, council meetings go by relatively quickly. Several in the last six months have lasted less than 20 minutes – one was just nine.

Committee meetings, by contrast, often last hours.

The four committees are Development, Planning and Zoning; Finance, Council Affairs and Administrative Services; Public Affairs and Safety; and Public Works.

Aldermen Michael Bram of Ward 3, Rex Irby of Ward 7 and Karen Sienko of Ward 2 are asking the council to consider either video or audio recording committee meetings as well as those of the Zoning and Planning Commission.

All three aldermen were elected in April, with Bram returning after two years away.

"There is no substitute to being at a meeting in person to get an in-depth understanding of the various topics being discussed within the City of Elmhurst," the aldermen said in a memo. "The next best way for Elmhurst residents to understand what is being discussed on their behalf would be a video recording."

At the very least, they said, an audio recording should be made available.

"This would assist all Elmhurst residents who are unable to attend meetings to keep up with Elmhurst issues at their convenience," the aldermen said.

Such recordings could also help aldermen themselves. All four committees happen at the same time twice a month.

Every alderman serves on one committee, which means they cannot hear the debates taking place in the others. The exception is when their committee meeting is canceled or ends earlier than the others.

On Tuesday, the council is set to vote on whether to refer the aldermen's request to the Finance, Council Affairs and Administrative Services Committee.