By Jennifer Wheeler
BELVIDERE — Citing “inconvenience and expense,” Belvidere Township officials passed a resolution earlier this month saying it’s OK to erase recordings of their meetings soon afterward.
The Township Board voted unanimously Aug. 13 to authorize destruction of tapes of its twice-monthly public meetings after trustees approve a report summarizing actions taken. Tapes of the annual township meeting will be maintained until the next annual township meeting.
Supervisor Patrick Murphy and Clerk Judy Schabacker declined to comment on the policy despite numerous requests from the Rockford Register Star.
Although the board policy violates no laws, the township ordinance runs contrary to the ideal of transparency in government and the practice of other local governments.
