Oswego Board Meeting Moves Online Over Coronavirus Concerns

OSWEGO, IL — In response to the new coronavirus crisis, the Oswego Village Board announced Monday that it would be moving its Tuesday, April 7 meeting online. For both the village meeting proper at 7 p.m. and the Committee of the Whole meeting at 6 p.m., village residents will be able to attend digitally as well as live-comment on the proceedings. Residents will also be able to call in to the meetings by phone.

The meeting will still be held physically at Village Hall on 100 Parkers Mill, Community Engagement Coordinator Jenette Sturges said. However, due to Governor Pritzker's executive order limiting public gatherings to ten people, she said it would be better for interested residents to participate from home.

"We strongly, strongly encourage people that want to participate to do so online," Sturges said.

She also added that should this digital meeting format work alright, it may become a regular way to conduct meetings throughout the coronavirus crisis.

"The plan is that if this works out, it will be the normal format until the stay-at-home order is lifted," Sturges said.

Here is the full text of the vliiage's press release on the new digital meeting format:

The Village of Oswego will hold its regularly scheduled Committee of the Whole and Village Board meetings on Tuesday, April 7, with changes to allow elected officials, staff, and the public to participate remotely in compliance with the statewide Stay at Home Order. The Committee of the Whole will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7. The Village Board meeting follows at 7 p.m. Village Hall will be opened for the meeting, however, residents are strongly encouraged to watch or participate remotely. Here’s how:

To watch meetings live, visit www.oswegoil.org/government/village-board/agendas.aspx. Scroll down to Upcoming Events. Once the meeting begins, an In Progress link will appear. Click on it to watch the meeting. To give a comment at the meetings, you have multiple options:

• Email your comment to publiccomment@oswegoil.org by 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Your comment will be read aloud during the Public Forum portion of the Village Board meeting by a Village staff member.
• Join our webinar by video. Visit StreamUS.oswegoil.org Members of the public will be muted during the meeting to allow the board to conduct business but will be individually unmuted during the public comment portion of the meeting.
• Join our meeting by phone call. Call (312) 626-6799 just prior to the meeting. When prompted, enter passcode 508 193 215 from your phone. You’ll then hear the audio of the meeting through our webinar service. Members of the public will be muted during the meeting to allow the board to conduct business but will be individually unmuted during the public comment portion of the meeting.
• You may also still watch the meeting and give public comment in person. Residents are strongly encouraged to stay home and participate remotely, however, they may also attend the meeting in person. If attending, members of the public are required to stay six feet from any other person in the room.

As always, those giving public comment are asked to fill out the Public Participation form and abide by the Village’s civility code, which is available on the Village’s website, under Participate in the April 7 Village Board meeting. The form may be submitted by email to publiccomment@oswegoil.org.

In March, Illinois Gov. Pritzker announced a temporary change to the state’s Open Meetings Act that waives the requirement that a physical quorum of elected officials be present to hold a public meeting. Remote participation for elected officials, staff, and the public is expected to continue until the order is lifted. For more information about public participation at meetings during the COVID-19 crisis, contact Village Clerk Tina Touchette at 630-554-3259 or ttouchette@oswegoil.org.

Get updates as they happen

Residents are also encouraged to follow the Village of Oswego on Facebook (@VillageofOswego) and Twitter (@OswegoIL60543) for to-the-minute updates. You can also subscribe to Village of Oswego emails by visiting oswegoil.org and clicking on E-mail Alerts.­­

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