Are Special Meetings a Bad Thing?

The Orland Park Village Board of Trustees have had two “special” meetings since Jim Dodge took office in the spring.

There are some who think that these two hastily called meetings were somehow less than a regularly scheduled meeting. Some see it as a chance to hustle through pet projects or spend money without transparency.

What does Illinois law say about such meetings?

In Illinois municipal government, both regular meetings and special meetings of a village board or city council are recognized under the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA, 5 ILCS 120/). The main differences lie in scheduling, notice, and agenda control.

Regular Meetings

• Pre-Scheduled: Municipal boards adopt an annual schedule of regular meetings (dates, times, locations). This schedule is posted publicly at the beginning of the calendar or fiscal year.
• Notice Requirements: No additional 48-hour notice is required for each individual meeting, since the schedule itself serves as notice. However, the agenda must still be posted at least 48 hours before each meeting.
• Business Conducted: Any matter within the board’s jurisdiction can generally be taken up, subject to what is listed on the agenda.
• Routine Nature: These meetings are expected and recurring — they are the “default” governing sessions.

Special Meetings

• Called as Needed: These are unscheduled, called by the mayor/village president, or by a specified number of trustees (the requirement varies by municipal code or ordinance).
• Notice Requirements: The OMA requires at least 48 hours public notice, stating the date, time, place, and specific purpose of the meeting. The agenda must also be posted at least 48 hours in advance.
• Agenda Limits: Business at a special meeting is generally restricted to the items stated in the call/notice. Unlike a regular meeting, you can’t freely add unrelated business at the table.
• Use Cases: Typically used for urgent issues, budget amendments, personnel matters, litigation, bond issuances, or other time-sensitive items that cannot wait until the next regular meeting.

Practical Impact

• Transparency: Both types of meetings must be open to the public (except for closed sessions under OMA exemptions). However, because special meetings can be called quickly, residents and the press often pay closer attention to ensure transparency.
• Legal Vulnerability: If a board takes up matters outside the stated purpose of a special meeting, the action may be challenged as a violation of OMA.
• Board Dynamics: Special meetings are sometimes used strategically — for example, to push through or block time-sensitive measures when regular attendance may vary.

Special Meetings are as much a part of good municipal governance as regular meetings. They serve a purpose and are always well documented.

They are not a rarity in Orland Park.

From 2019 through 2024, there were twenty-one Special Meetings held over a range of issues. I wouldn’t be too concerned over their use.