Open Meetings Act
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To enrich the lives of individuals and families through parks, facilities, programs, events and recreational opportunities.
Vision
To Inspire an accessible and connected community through neighborhood parks and recreation experiences.
Core Values
Authentic and Transparent
Service/Team Focused
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Engaged in the Community
Illinois Open Meetings Act
The Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA), codified under 5 ILCS 120, is a state law designed to ensure transparency and accountability in government. The central goal of the Act is to guarantee that the public has access to the deliberations and actions of public bodies, such as city councils, school boards, and state commissions, as decisions made by these entities directly affect citizens’ lives.
Under the OMA, all meetings of public bodies must be open to the public, with few exceptions. This means that meetings must be announced in advance, with adequate notice provided to the public, and a posted agenda outlining topics to be discussed. The Act applies to gatherings where a quorum of members is present and public business is discussed or acted upon.
Public bodies are allowed to enter into closed (executive) sessions only for specific reasons outlined in the law—such as discussions about personnel matters, collective bargaining, litigation, or the purchase or lease of real property. Even then, a public vote must first be taken to go into closed session, and the general subject matter must be disclosed.
OMA also requires that minutes be recorded and made publicly available. In the case of closed sessions, minutes must still be taken and retained, and are subject to periodic review to determine if they can be released.
Violations of the Act can result in legal challenges. The Public Access Counselor (PAC), under the Illinois Attorney General’s office, has the authority to review complaints and issue binding opinions. Courts can also void actions taken in violation of the OMA.
The Illinois Open Meetings Act serves as a vital check on governmental power by ensuring openness, participation, and trust in the democratic process.
Employee Compensation
In 2012, Public Act 097-0609 amended the Open Meetings Act to require employers participating in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund to post on their websites the “total compensation package” for each employee making over $75,000 per year. View the Park District’s total compensation packages for these employees.
Learn more about the Open Meetings Act on the Illinois General Assembly website.
View the IMRF Employer Cost & Participation Information
Contact Us
Crete Park District 737 W Exchange Street Crete IL, 60417 M-F 9 am - 5 pm
708.672.6969