From Illinois Leaks, reprinted with permission:
AG: Algonquin Township violated FOIA, refused to cooperate –
BY JMKRAFT ON JULY 11, 2019 • ( LEAVE A COMMENT )
ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP (ECWd) –
The Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) issued a determination letter stating that Algonquin Township violated the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) when they denied my March 21, 2019, FOIA request for certain records of the township.
James Kelly, Algonquin Township Attorney, after repeated phone calls and requests for information from the AG’s PAC Office, apparently refused to provide the information requested by the PAC.
The FOI Act requires a public body to provide the PAC with the information they request, even if it is privileged, and requires a public body to fully cooperate with the PAC.
Algonquin Township did neither, and this isn’t the first time they have refused to cooperate or provide records to the PAC.
It is becoming a habit for them, and apparently, the Township Trustees are happy spending taxpayer’s hard-earned money on an attorney that refuses to comply with the law.
In its determination letter, the PAC asked the township to provide a copy of the requested records to me with only permissible redactions.
Any further failure on the township’s part to comply with this request will generate another FOIA lawsuit against Algonquin Township.
As with any other FOIA request – all the township has to do is comply with the law, but recent history shows us they are not willing to do that.
We urge residents to tell their township trustees how much they appreciate throwing tax money at the township’s attorney in these matters.
Our work is funded entirely thru donations and we
ask that you consider donating at the below link.
Is Kelly attempting to totally frustrate the State Political establishment to get them to abolish all Townships?
Just a thought.
Wow.
There’s a lot of this, AG telling a local government they violated FOIA, going around.
Any place this is happening is wrong, but your chief law enforcement office?
Read what neighbors to the south have to put up with their state’s attorney’s office.
At least their elected state’s attorney has decided not to seek re-election next year:
https://thefirstward.net/2019/07/10/quick-hits-above-the-law
Another great victory for this sunshine blog in its crusade for transparency and accountability. Please donate $0.00 to this mangywatchdog group. Stay tuned…tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, meeeeeeoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww…
What certain files were requested by the Dog’s and for what purpose?
Ya know it’s just more of the FOIA pilings on GAME.
Nob you were just fine with Local 150 seeking money for FOIA requests.
How’s this any different
Just a Township pro tip from your ole pal D J.
If you wanna keep from being ridiculed, stop being ridiculous.
Nob, explain why it matters what files were requested and why.
If the request was for files meeting FOIA, the township must comply.
It’s beyond head-shaking why they are refusing in light of overwhelming public scrutiny and AG involvement.
Sheesh, the township needs to put down their shovel and stop digging that hole its in.
Never said I favored giving 150 anything.
Have someone explain if you can’t comprehend.
Nob your silence on 150 doing the same thing we have is loud and clear.
Not a peep negative about them suing under FOIA but you cant stop finding fault with our doing the same thing.
You continue to expose the reL bias.
You say we have piled on yet say nothing about the NWH actually asking for more records than we have.
Sure, we’re the bias ones!
LOL
Nob has proven to be one of the most ridiculous posters.
Alg. township was run like a crazy place straight outa the Twilight Zone.
Bob Miller coronated himself as king, his wife as queen and all his sons-in-law as lords.
Finally he got dumped.
I wanted to see jail time, but we have a wimp State’s Atty.
Listening and learning is better than running one’s lips just because it’s fun.
The union has skin in the game, you Dog’s are outsiders playing the FOIA game as a tool to feed your hobby.
It would be nice if both of y’ll just would go away, but sadly that isn’t the reality of the games being played.
Yawn.
Another lie from the nob.
It is not a game and no different than what we have done for years.
If you think it feeds our work your sadly mistaken.
Everyone knows its lawyers that make the money.
And thanks for confirming you have no problem with 150 doing the same thing we did.
We do have skin in the game.
Just not the same type as 150.
People asked for help, we provide it.
Let’s take a vote how many of n favor of Nob going away?
Do I need to post the quote where you said it was a game Kirk?
Another mistake you made, it’s a fact.
A figure of speech that you twist to imply a literal meaning when you know damn good and well that was not the context in which it was used.
You always always measure your words carefully typing my disingenuous Waltzer.
Ballroom Basics: The Waltz – liveabout.com
https://www.liveabout.com/waltz-dance-basics-404143
You are exposing a belief that accountability and facts don’t matter, Nob, or you would embrace the work of the Dogs.
That’s dangerous, though admittedly less so than a clerk thinking she’s above the law and costing the township taxpayers a lot of money.
Facts matter regardless of who they concern.
Yes we have problems at AT, it’s obvious, no one I know is saying otherwise.
No, I’m exposing piling on with no benefit to tax payers, rather additional costs that have no value.
Bias people with blinders don’t want to see both sides of the problem, only the side they want to see.
Facts work, waltzing not so much.
Have you ever seen the list of what they have FOIA and the extent, the number, of the files requested?
It’s piling on the volume of FOIA requests, but because of the type of org they set up they get a exception to the piling on rule.
Cal, You, and I could never get to request at that volume.
Kirk – Name that skin.
“A figure of speech that you twist to imply a literal meaning” A page out of your playbook. The “circle jerk” answer is your favorite game.
Townships are a complete waste.
The nepotism and pension sink hole is enough, alone, to require elimination.