Meetings & COVID-19

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused many changes in our way of life as well as unprecedented challenges for our society to face.  Words such as pandemic, stay at home, and social distancing have become a part of our lives for the time being.  We all have been impacted and we all are facing a variety of challenges.

One of the challenges the Village of Heyworth municipal operation faces is having necessary Board meetings that can be held in a way that is safe for its Board members, employees and the public.  Even during times such as these, the Village Board must still approve many actions essential to operating the Village, such as approving expenditures of funds, approval of contracts, adoption of budgets, and many more.  There are also many items the Board must take action on within a certain timeframe or by a certain date.

On March 16, 2020, Governor Pritzker, in response to this challenge, executed Executive Order 2020-07, in which it stated:

"During the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, the provisions of the Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 120, requiring or relating to in-person attendance  by members of a public body are suspended.  Specifically, (1) the requirement in 5 ILCS 120/2.01 that members of a public body must be physically present" is suspended; and (2) the conditions in 5 ILCS 120/7 limiting when remote participation is permitted are suspended.  Public bodies are encouraged to postpone consideration of public business where possible.  When a meeting is necessary, public bodies are encouraged to provide video, audio, and/or telephonic access to meetings to ensure members of the public may monitor the meeting, and to update their websites and social media feeds to keep the public fully apprised of any modifications to their meeting schedules or the format of their meetings due to COVID-19, as well their activities relating to COVID-19."

Village officials have explored a variety of ways to conduct meetings safely, with a primary focus on remote participation for its board members, employees and public, and have decided to utilize Zoom Meetings at times, as well as in-person meetings at the Heyworth Village Hall.  If physically attending a meeting, please be familiar with and adhere to the Policy for Physically Attending Meetings in order to help provide a safer environment for those in attendance.

Zoom Meetings
 
Zoom Meetings is a web-based conferencing tool that allows users to meet online or remotely.  Zoom Meetings can be accessed using a computer, mobile phone, or home phone.  Joining a meeting with a computer (via a web browser) or mobile device with the Zoom App allows participation in a manner that has more features and is recommended. The Zoom Cloud Meeting App can be downloaded at no cost from either Google Play or the Apple App Store.


Public Participation
 
Members of the public are still able to participate in these board meetings in a variety of ways.  When meetings are held on Zoom Meetings, you can join the meeting via Zoom Meetings and an opportunity will be provided for the public to make public comments.  Public comment rules still apply.  During this period, public comments may also be submitted in advance via email and those comments will be read by a Village official at the meeting.  To submit your comment, email your comment to villagehall@heyworth-il.gov by 3:00 p.m. the day of a board meeting or at least 3 hours prior to any other meeting.  If a meeting is held in-person, typical public participation requirements apply.

When meetings are held in person at the Heyworth Village Hall, seating is spaced over six feet apart, masks and hand sanitizer are available for attendees, and is air is being filtered.  Attendees are requested to wear a mask until seated and if social distancing cannot be maintained.  
 
Specific Zoom Meeting Access Information
Future Zoom Meetings Now Use The Following Information Until Further Notice
 
The following is information for members of the public that would like to participate in the Board meeting utilizing Zoom Meetings if a meeting is held on Zoom Meetings:
 
Computer:        In a web browser, go to: https://zoom.us/j/3094732811.
                             Input the following - Use Meeting ID: 309 473 2811.

App:                   If you are using the Zoom Cloud Meeting App on your smart phone or tablet, enter -
                            Meeting ID: 309 473 2811

Phone:              If you'd prefer to join Zoom Meetings via telephone only, call (312) 626-6799.  
                           Use Meeting ID: 309 473 2811 when prompted.