ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL RULES SAUK VILLAGE VIOLATED FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

DEBBIE WILLIAMS

VILLAGE CLERK DEBBIE WILLIAMS MUST DISCLOSE DETAILS ON TRAVELGATE

SAUK VILLAGE| The Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office issued a rare 10 page binding opinion against the Village of Sauk Village concerning a request for information about Village Clerk Debbie Williams’, her daughter Village Trustee Rosie Williams and a Village vendor Patricia Couch’s trip to Washington D.C. in July, 2013 to attend the Building One America conference.  Madigan’s office declared in their opinion that the Village had “violated the (Freedom of Information) Act” by not providing full and complete disclosure about the trip, which they determined was subject to public disclosure.

 

***CLICK HERE*** TO VIEW THE 10 PAGE I.A.G. OPINION

 

Debbie Williams solicited “donations and sponsorships” on the Village’s webpage, solicited input for her report she was to give from the Village’s Attorney, Public Works Director, Village Engineer, Mayor David Hanks and some residents as well.   Ironically, Debbie Williams defiantly declared during a Village Board meeting July 23, 2013 that this was a “personal trip” and that she “refused” to disclose any information without the Village Attorney telling her to do so.

 

Former Village Trustee Joseph Wiszowaty, who also reports on village matters for this blog the Sauk Villager News,  filed the request in August, 2013 and then filed a request for Madigan’s office to review the entire matter once the Village did not comply.  Madigan’s office determined in March, 2013 in a “non-binding” opinion that the Village must disclose the information about the trip, including who paid for it and how much all aspects of the trip cost.   The Village refused to comply with Madigan’s office opinion to disclose.  Wiszowaty filed another request to the Village in April of this year and once again the Village refused prompting Wiszowaty to file a request for review with Madigan’s office again.

 

“This has been the least transparent Village administration in Sauk Village’s history” Wiszowaty said.  “This begs the question, what are they hiding?  What are they afraid of?  Actions like this smell of impropriety and cause scandals” Wiszowaty said.  “Arrogance and entitlement have already cost the taxpayers of Sauk Village additional legal fees defending something which is indefensible.  It seems that some people have forgotten who elected them, the people, and they are entitled to transparency and accountability in their government” Wiszowaty said.  The Village already has budgeted over $500,000 for legal fees in the 2014-15 budget despite claims that litigation have decreased according to Mayor David Hanks.

 

Wiszowaty is awaiting the response from the Village.  

 

Madigan’s office, in a 2013 press release stated: “In 2013, the Public Access Bureau again increased the number of binding opinions issued. The authority to issue binding administrative decisions was an important component of the 2010 overhaul of the state’s transparency laws and has allowed the Bureau to issue opinions that clarify the law and increase disclosure. The Public Access Bureau has also helped thousands of members of the public, media organizations and advocacy groups resolve disputes over records and open meetings through informal mediation with public bodies that has led to increased disclosure of government information.”