Section 2175.125  Public Notice of Open Board Meetings and Closed Deliberative Sessions

a)         Public Notice of Regular Open Board Meetings and Closed Deliberative Sessions. 

1)         The Board adopts annual schedules of open meetings.  Regular open Board meetings are generally held twice a month, generally every first and third Thursday of the month at a location in Chicago, at the Board's Springfield office, or by video conference between the two locations.  The dates, times and locations are subject to change. 

2)         Notification of regular open Board meetings is given in the Board's Environmental Register, a quarterly publication available free of charge in hard copy at the Board’s Chicago and Springfield offices, on the Board's Website (see Section 2175.310), and by email subscription. Notification of all regular open Board meetings and closed deliberative sessions is also provided under Sections 2.02 and 2.03 of the Open Meetings Act [5 ILCS 120/2.02 and 2.03]. 

A)        At least 48 hours before each regular open Board meeting and closed deliberative session, an agenda for the meeting or session is posted at the Board's Chicago office and at any other location where the meeting or session is to be held.  Each agenda is also posted on the Board's Website and remains so posted at least until the conclusion of the regular meeting or session.

B)        Notification of the annual schedule of regular open Board meetings is given at the beginning of each calendar year by posting a copy of the schedule at the Board's Chicago office.  In addition, the annual schedule is posted on the Board's Website and remains so posted at least until a new public notice of the schedule of regular meetings and sessions is approved and posted.

b)         Public Notice of Special or Emergency Meetings. 

1)         Whether a special or emergency meeting is an open Board meeting or a closed deliberative session, notice of a special or emergency meeting will generally be given to all Board members and the public at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.  If, however, a majority of the Board certifies that an emergency exists and exigencies of time are such that the 48-hour notice must be dispensed with, notice to the public of an emergency meeting will be given as soon as is reasonably practicable, but prior to holding the meeting.

2)         Notice of a special or emergency meeting will include a copy of the meeting agenda and will be posted at the Board's Chicago office, at any other location where the meeting is to be held, and on the Board's Website (see Section 2175.310), under Section 2.02 of the Open Meetings Act [5 ILCS 120/2.02].

3)         Despite subsections (b)(1) and (2), at any open Board meeting for which notice has been given as required by the Open Meetings Act, the Board may, without additional notice under Section 2.02 of the Open Meetings Act [5 ILCS 120/2.02], hold a special or emergency closed deliberative session.  Only topics specified in the vote to close the meeting may be considered during the closed deliberative session [5 ILCS 120/2a] (see Section 2175.120(c)).

c)         Notice to Media.  The Board gives notice of regular, special, or emergency meetings, whether the meeting is an open Board meeting or a closed deliberative session, to any news medium that has filed an annual request for such notice under Section 2.02(b) of the Open Meetings Act [5 ILCS 120/2.02(b)].

d)         Videoconference and Teleconference.  Whether the meeting is a regular, special, or emergency meeting, the Board may hold its open meetings and closed deliberative sessions by videoconference between Chicago and Springfield locations.  Open Board meetings may be attended by the public at both locations. 

1)         A Board member may attend an open Board meeting telephonically under Section 2175.120(d)(2) and (3) and the Open Meetings Act [5 ILCS 120/7(a), (e)]. 

2)         The Board may hold its closed deliberative sessions by teleconference.

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 9973, effective May 26, 2022)