By Greg Halbleib
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner says open meeting concerns about the liquor commission are “much ado about nothing.”
Renner has asked the two people who sit with him to hear liquor license cases to step down while an Open Meetings Act complaint is investigated. Renner said someone has complained that when he talks to one of the two liquor commissioners, that constitutes a quorum and the conversation cannot be private. Renner claims the law states he’s the only legally required liquor commissioner and the others are purely advisory, so it’s not a formal body.
“Until this is resolved by the public access counselor that we’re definitely not violating the Open Meetings Act, at this point I’m not asking anybody to help me,” Renner told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin. “When we get to the point that the public access counselor rules, I’d like to go back to having two people assisting me. I thought that worked very well.”
One of the commissioners, Sue Feldtkamp, said she’s not willing to resign but Renner said he’s talked to her about a position on another commission. Renner said adding commissioners would make liquor hearings too cumbersome.
Renner also said the city council wants to compare benefits offered to city employees with those provided in the private sector. Renner said anyone willing to provide that information can mail their benefits one-sheet to him at Bloomington City Hall, 104 E. Front St., Bloomington, IL 61701 or bring one to a mayor’s open house held Fridays from 4:30 to 5:30 before the following week’s council meeting.
Greg Halbleib can be reached at greg@wjbc.com.
