Freeport’s Public Meeting Rules: A Step Toward Greater Transparency or Room for Improvement?


May 04, 2025

In a democracy, government should never happen behind closed doors. That’s the fundamental idea behind Chapter 216 of the City of Freeport’s Municipal Code—a local law designed to ensure that city meetings are open, organized, and accountable to the public.

While many residents may not be familiar with Chapter 216, it quietly plays a powerful role in how decisions are made in Freeport. From city council sessions to advisory boards and public commissions, this ordinance sets the standards for transparency—and gives residents the legal right to observe, participate, and review what their government does.

What Is Chapter 216?

Chapter 216 is Freeport’s Public Meetings Ordinance. It works alongside the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA) but goes even further in some areas to guarantee public access and oversight.

The ordinance applies to all official city bodies—from the City Council to advisory committees—and outlines the rules for:

  • How meetings are scheduled and announced

  • What information must be provided to the public

  • How and when closed sessions can occur

  • How meeting minutes are created, preserved, and disclosed

  • What qualifies as remote participation

In short, Chapter 216 ensures that government business stays in public view.

A Breakdown of the Law

🔎 216.01 – Intent of the Ordinance

Chapter 216 is built on a simple but powerful principle: when in doubt, lean toward openness. If there’s ever a conflict between this local law and state law, the rule that gives the public more access and notice wins out.

📢 216.02 – Full Compliance with the Open Meetings Act

All city public bodies must follow the Illinois Open Meetings Act. That includes avoiding any “informal” or “social” discussions of public business among a majority of a quorum unless it’s a properly noticed meeting.

📅 216.03 – Meeting Notice Requirements

This section requires:

  • An annual calendar of regular meetings

  • 48-hour advance notice for all meetings, including date, time, location, and a clear agenda

  • Posting of notices at City Hall and the meeting site, plus delivery to any media or individuals who request it

  • Archiving of notices for two years

This guarantees that the public is never left guessing when or where decisions will be made.

🔐 216.04 – Closed (Executive) Sessions

Private meetings must meet strict criteria:

  • The public body must state the legal reason for going into executive session, including naming the court and case number if litigation is discussed

  • A roll call vote is required to enter the session

  • No final decisions can be made in secret—every vote must be repeated in public

This prevents misuse of closed-door meetings and holds leaders accountable.

📝 216.05 – Minutes and Records

Every meeting must have written minutes that record:

  • Who was present

  • What was discussed

  • All votes taken

These minutes are sent to the City Clerk and kept on file for three years. Minutes from executive sessions are sealed but reviewed twice a year to determine if they should be opened to the public.

💻 216.06 – Electronic Participation

City officials can join meetings by phone or video, but only if:

  • They’re ill, on city business, or dealing with family emergencies

  • A quorum is physically present

  • The body approves their remote attendance by two-thirds vote

  • All votes during remote participation are taken by roll call

This section balances flexibility with safeguards against abuse.

Two Meetings, Two Standards

Recent events highlight how this ordinance plays out in the real world.

On April 8, 2025, the Freeport Township held its State of the Township meeting. Led by Township Supervisor Patrick Sellers, the meeting featured:

  • A publicly posted agenda

  • A designated moderator

  • Minutes taken

  • A video recording for transparency

This meeting followed Chapter 216 to the letter—ensuring that residents could observe and review everything that took place.

In contrast, the City of Freeport’s State of the City address, held on April 29, 2025 and led by City Manager Rob Boyer, did not follow the ordinance. There was no official agenda posted in advance, and no public notice was found indicating it was a formal public meeting under Chapter 216. It’s also unclear whether minutes were taken or if a recording is available.

The result? A missed opportunity for transparency—and a moment where the city failed to meet its own standards.

Why It Matters to You

Chapter 216 isn’t just red tape—it’s your legal right to see what your government is doing. Here's what it guarantees:

  • You get to know when meetings are happening

  • You get to see what’s on the agenda

  • You get to review what was said and done

  • You get a voice in the process

When these rules are followed, democracy works. When they’re not, trust erodes.

Our Recommendation: Enforce and Educate

Fighting4Freeport encourages:

  1. City officials to fully comply with Chapter 216 for all meetings, not just City Council

  2. Posting of all agendas, minutes, and notices in an accessible location (including online)

  3. Training for city staff and leadership on Chapter 216 and the Open Meetings Act

  4. Video recording of all major public meetings, including the annual State of the City

Conclusion: Transparency Is a Choice

Freeport’s Chapter 216 is a model ordinance—clear, enforceable, and pro-public. But it only works if officials choose to follow it. The Township showed it can be done. Now it’s time for the City to do the same.

Because when the public is informed, the government is accountable. And that’s what democracy looks like.