Description

Purchase this innovative seminar and get up to speed on the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Understand the intricacies of the Open Meetings Act and the complicated issues surrounding record retention requirements. Avoid problems down the road by protecting yourself and your company – find out exactly what the critical issues are and how to best handle them. You’ll gain the practical insight you need to deal with any challenges that come your way, including tips on keeping your public body out of litigation over record requirements. You will learn to recognize to whom and what the Illinois Freedom of Information Act applies, understand the duties of records custodians in responding to record requests, comply with procedural requirements applicable to closed meetings or votes, stay on top of recent updates to the Open Meeting Act and fulfill record retention requirements.

Steven A. Andersson

Steven A. Andersson is a partner in the Kane County law firm of Mickey, Wilson, Weiler, Renzi & Andersson, P.C. His main area of practice is representing local municipalities in the Fox Valley area. These include being general counsel and prosecutor for the village of Montgomery and the village of Sugar Grove. During his tenure, Mr. Andersson has been involved in negotiating the annexation and development of properties which will more than double the size of both municipalities in the next few years. He regularly serves as a special prosecutor for other communities for liquor violations, zoning and planning issues, personnel and other matters. The firm also represents area school districts and fire protection districts. Mr. Andersson also regularly represents individuals and their families in planning for their long-term care needs. He is a past president and former member of the Kane County Bar Association, and is also the chair of the Municipal Law Committee for Kane County. Mr. Andersson served the Aurora area as a member of the board of the Aurora Family Counseling Service and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and as the chairman of the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce School/ Business Partnership Program which partners local businesses with all schools K-8 in the Aurora area, public and private. He received his J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Northern Illinois University. Mr. Andersson is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, state and federal bar associations, and serves as a director on several charitable organizations in the Kane County area.

Brian J. O’Connor

Brian J. O’Connor joined the law firm of Ottosen Britz Kelly Cooper & Gilbert, Ltd., in 2004 after admission to the bar. Mr. O’Connor received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Northern Illinois University, where he served as an editor for the law review and was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the College of Law Community award. His practice encompasses local government law, probate and estate planning, residential and commercial real estate, and general business law. Mr. O’Connor’s local government law practice involves routine representation with various local governmental clients, including municipalities, fire protection districts and townships. He had a distinguished career prior to law school, entering the U.S. Army as a commissioned officer in 1975 and retiring in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after more than 21 years of continuous service. During this time he earned his M.S. degree from the University of Southern California and completed the requirements of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff Officers Course as a member of the Commandant’s List. Following his retirement, Mr. O’Connor was employed in various positions in the private sector, both in the United States and overseas, before entering law school. He belongs to a variety of professional legal associations, including the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Kane and DuPage County Bar Associations. Mr. O’Connor is similarly active in community affairs, as a member of the Elburn Chamber of Commerce and Elburn Lions Club. Additionally, he is a life member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Association of the United States Army and the Military Officers Association of America.

Michael B. Weinstein

Michael B. Weinstein is the associate general counsel for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. In that capacity, he represents the fund in the Illinois trial and reviewing courts with regard to administrative review complaints and other litigation matters. He is also responsible for presenting the staff position in administrative hearings held before the IMRF Board of Trustees’ Benefit Review Committee. Prior to joining IMRF, Mr. Weinstein served as city attorney and, subsequently, corporation counsel for Aurora, Illinois, the second largest city in Illinois. He has also served as an assistant attorney general and acting chief of the Criminal Appeals Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. Mr. Weinstein has briefed and argued appeals before the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Weinstein received his J.D. degree from the University of Illinois Law School. He is admitted to practice in the state of Illinois, as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.