Urbana City Clerk Charlie Smyth Violates Open Meetings Act in Locked Meeting

On March 23^rd, 2020, the Urbana City Council held a meeting that brought scrutiny from citizens. Urbana City Clerk Charlie Smyth took part in violating the Illinois Open Meetings Act by arranging a meeting that did not allow for public access or public input. The meeting was held behind locked doors at the direction of Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin, after the Urbana City Council gave Marlin executive powers to hold such closed meetings. It is not clear why Smyth, who is Urbana’s primary Freedom of Information Act Officer, and who was required to take Open Meetings Act training for his position, did not speak up or take any issue with the decision.

A full article about the March 23^rd meeting, including the use of Urbana Police to direct citizens to leave the City Building, can be found here: Urbana City Council Locks Out Citizens, Violates Open Meetings Act