ELMHURST, IL – At her final Elmhurst City Council meeting, Alderwoman Marti Deuter on Monday pointed to the council’s committees as where the “real work” takes place.
Deuter, who is leaving to become the area’s state representative, said she has always encouraged the public to attend committee meetings.
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That’s where aldermen work on recommendations for city policy.
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“The good stuff happens in committee,” Deuter said.
The “good stuff,” though, is not easy to access. While City Council meetings are video-recorded, committee meetings are not. No audio is even available.
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In June 2023, aldermen Michael Bram, Rex Irby and Karen Sienko asked the council to consider either video or audio recording committee meetings as well as those of the Zoning and Planning Commission.
A year and a half later, the council has not acted on the request.
Such recordings could also help aldermen do their jobs better. All four council committees happen at the same time twice a month.
Every alderman serves on one committee, which means members cannot hear the debates taking place in the others. The exception is when their committee meeting is canceled or ends earlier than the others.
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