Lisle Library Plans Citizen "Hit List"

The Lisle Library's newly-formed "Information Stewardship Committee" wasted no time in taking the first steps toward improving ways to inform the public - starting with a new citizen "Hit List." 

Recently, a former Trustee in Sauk Village accused the Village of Sauk Village of posting a FOIA list, a "Hit List," as he called it, as a method of targeting and intimidating citizens who submit FOIA requests.   Modeled after ... You guessed it... The Village of Lisle. Maybe we should change the tag line from Arboretum Village to  __________??? 

Back to the story...

On September 11, 2013, the Lisle Library Information Stewardship Committee diverted from their stated purpose of "record retention, publication and storage" and moved swiftly into discussion and planning to post a citizen "hit list" online with the of the names of persons who ask for copies of public records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

A few things to keep in mind as you read through the following excerpt from the Sept 11, 2013 committee meeting: 

• The FOIA Officer for the Lisle Library did not complete any state-mandated annual FOIA training during FY 2012-2013, per records from the IL Attorney General.  The FOIA Officer for the Lisle Library is Shannon Halikias.

• The Illinois Attorney General is currently reviewing numerous alleged Open Meetings violations of the Lisle Library Board dating back to meetings held in May 2013. Here. Here. Here. 

• The Library's "working budget" is adopted and approved without a public hearing. Draft "working budgets" in board packets are not made readily available to inform the public prior to approval. 

• The Lisle library does not post board packets online before board meetings and will not provide a paper copy or electronic copy of the board packet to a citizen before a board meeting.Here.

• The Lisle Library may have destroyed public records related to a staff party at Mullen's Bar & Grill. Here.

• The Lisle Library has the highest property tax rate of all neighboring community libraries. Here.

• The IL Freedom of Information Act allows public bodies to a deny request for copies of public records if the request is burdensome. Here.

• The Lisle Library does not post online a "checkbook" of expenditures.

• The Lisle Library does not post online the full roster of employee salaries, benefits and pension costs. 

• The Lisle Library does not post online contracts, bid notices, RFPs.

• The Lisle Library does not post online a 5 year financial forecast.

Excerpt from Committee Meeting Minutes:  

"Library Director,  Shannon Halikias [FOIA Officer], brought up the issue of requests for copies of public records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. (FOIA). 

We are getting a new copier with scanning capabilities. This should help us scan documents needed for FOIA’s.  Richard Flint stated that the committee members need to take a look at FOIA’s and possibly retake FOIA training. 

"We need to post our FOIA’s on our website so that our patrons can see these are becoming burdensome." 

"Shannon Halikias stated she is happy to sit down, one on one with patrons to explain things. She believes citizen input is a good thing.  

"Jen Ohzourk stated she has dealt with FOIA requests at her previous job and many people are just looking to find something wrong, Technology would help with this.  

"We need to publish the names of people who request FOIA’s and how much time it took to fulfill the request.  

"Tom Hummel stated a flow chart on the web site would be a good thing.  He would like to see a voucher list on the website before meetings and he thinks it is a good thing we have ordered a new copier/scanner to scan in our monthly bills.  

"Lindsey Dorfman stated putting a list of FOIA‘s and time spent on them would give the public insight as to how their taxpayer dollars are working for them. 

"Shannon Halikias [FOIA Officer] stated we are researching FOIA’s and the way they need to be responded to. 

"With recent FOIA requests, it is important to realize that we respond with existing documents.  We do not create new documents in response to a FOIA.  

"Richard Flint stated that the president of the board needs to know each time a FOIA is requested.  

Katherine Seelig, Shannon Halikias and Richard Flint will create an agenda for FOIA’s for the committee to discuss."  

   

   * * * * * * * 

Next meeting of the Information Stewardship Committee will be held on Nov 20, 2013 at 6:30 pm. 

QUESTIONS: 

Will the Lisle Library be posting the responses to each FOIA request, too?

Will the next meeting of the Information Stewardship Committee address "records retention, publication, and storage" of public records?