In November 2025, during a Sauk Village board meeting, Mayor Derrick Burgess stopped public commenter Francine Anderson from saying the names of village trustees while she spoke. This action drew attention from community members and open government advocates.
The Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor reviewed the incident and issued its first binding opinion of 2026 on January 21. The opinion found that the mayor’s actions violated the state’s Open Meetings Act, which protects the public’s right to address officials during meetings.
According to the binding opinion: “This was a complete embarrassment of the mayor and should be used as an example at all Open Meetings Act training classes as what not to do while in public office.”
The ruling highlights the importance of allowing full public participation in local government meetings. The Illinois Open Meetings Act requires that citizens have an opportunity to speak freely, including naming officials when addressing matters before public bodies.
