Schaumburg library board cancels retreat after failing to give notice

Schaumburg Township library officials failed to let the public know about a crucial long-range planning meeting Saturday morning, forcing the board to abruptly cancel it shortly after starting.

"It is absolutely an oversight for which I will take responsibility," said library district president Ruth Jonen. "It is one of those things that slipped through the cracks."

Illinois law requires governmental board to post information about upcoming meetings, notify local media outlets and make the meetings open to the public.

Jonen said that didn't happen with Saturday's long-range planning retreat for the library board, at which district managers were set to discuss how services should move forward in the coming years, including which programs to cut or expand.

The issue was brought to the board's attention by board member Marilyn Froehlich at the beginning of the meeting Saturday at the local Wingate Hotel.

Froehlich says she is concerned that a board filled mostly with veteran members would let public notification lapse. She says she is worried it could be a sign members feel they are "above the law."

Froehlich said she has raised such issues before and felt other board members attacked her for trying "to follow the law."

Jonen, however, says the board is studious about following state laws that require public meetings when tax dollars are at stake.

"That is something we are very sensitive too," she said.

Jonen said Saturday's incident occurred because normally the district's director would handle meeting posts, but the current director is new and was not aware of that responsibility.

Jonen said she wished Froehlich would have brought up the issue earlier, but Froehlich said she only became aware of the lack of posting right before the meeting was to start.

"It is very unfortunate that this happened," Jonen said.

The board's next meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the central library, 130 S. Roselle Road in Schaumburg.