By Jackee Coe | The Republic
The Peoria City Council will conduct public votes when filling vacant council seats, reversing a controversial policy that had attracted attention from the Attorney General’s Office.
At a special meetin, the council voted unanimously to make the change. That decision came less than a week before the council is set to appoint someone to fill a vacant seat.
The council had voted, 5-1, on May 20 to maintain its secret-ballot process, despite the threat of a legal challenge from the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office told city officials secret ballots violate the spirit of the Open Meeting Law, according to a city attorney.
