SOS NMDL Letter-writing Campaign
| Submitted | Dec. 13, 2021 |
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Communications
From: Niles Coalition
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., I hereby request the following records:
Please provide all records generated between November 10, 2021 and the date this request is processed (inclusive of those dates) that meet the following criteria:
1) Any and all communications (including but not limited to email or written letter) from the Illinois Secretary of State with the following domains specified in TO: or FROM: fields:
@ilsos.gov
@senatorram.com
@ilga.gov
@senatormartwick.com
@ilhousegop.org
2) Any and all written records (including but not limited to hard-copy documents, memos, emails, word processor documents, PDF documents, PowerPoint files, etc.) that contain the following terms:
-"Secretary of State"
-"Jesse White"
-"State Librarian"
-”Illinois State Library”
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The Niles Coalition, as part of our #SaveNilesLibrary campaign, launched a letter-writing action[1] in response to the escalating attack on our library by Niles-Maine Library Board trustees Carolyn Drblik, Joe Makula, and Suzanne Schoenfeldt. Their failure of their fiduciary duties were listed as:
*Continuing to refuse to fill staff vacancies, even after the recommendation of the director they appointed
*Deadlocking the board after their accomplice Olivia Hanusiak resigned
*Risking a financial crisis that could impact the library for decades by pushing back the levy vote. (Find out more with our Levy FAQ)
*Stalling the appointment of a new trustee to the vacant board position (even though a swift process is required by law), ensuring their power to block all and any board work, including the library’s revenue source, the levy
*Abusing their power by limiting speech during public comments in violation of the Open Meetings Act
A month after the launch[2] of our letter-writing action on November 10th, 2021, a total of 798 letters are documented as sent to our State Librarian Jesse White and other elected officials by concerned community members.
[1]”Help Us Save the Niles-Maine District Library!” letter-writing campaign: <https://web.archive.org/web/20211213174835/https://actionnetwork.org/letters/help-us-save-the-niles-maine-district-library>
[2]Niles Coalition email newsletter posting: <https://web.archive.org/web/20211212054138/https://www.nilescoalition.org/2021/11/10/email-write-with-us/>
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Niles Coalition
From: Niles-maine District Library
January 17, 2022
Via Email
Niles Coalition
requests@muckrock.com
Re: December 21, 2021 FOIA Request
January 10, 2022 Voluminous response
Dear Niles Coalition:
January 10, 2022 we received your response by mail to our request to amend and /or narrow your original request as listed below which was determined to be voluminous in nature as defined in Section 2(h) of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act in that your FOIA Request asks for more than five (5) different categories of records 5 ILCS 140/2(h). Specifically, there are more than five (5) categories to your request.
1. Any and all communications (including but not limited to email or written letter) from the Illinois Secretary of State with the following domains specified in TO: or FROM fields:
@ilsos.gov
@senatorram.com
@ilga.gov
@senatormartwick.com
@ilhousegop.org
2. Any and all written records (including but not limited to hard-copy documents, memos, emails, word processor documents, PDF documents, PowerPoint files, etc.) that contain the following terms:
"Secretary of State”
"Jesse White"
"State Librarian"
"Illinois state Library"
As you did not narrow or amend your request and your requests continues to be voluminous the District will respond to your request and assess any fees permitted under Section 6 of the Freedom of Information Act.
The District also extends its time to respond to the Request for an additional ten (10) business days. If the responsive records are not accepted or collected, the District may still charge fees for its response pursuant to Section 6 of FOIA, and failure to pay will be considered a debt due and owing to the District, which may be collected in accordance with applicable law. Per Section 6 of FOIA, the District may charge for the time spent by staff searching for and retrieving a requested record or examining the record for necessary redactions if that time exceeds eight (8) hours. Further, it can charge for the electronic production of PDF’s based on the fee schedule below:
Up to 80 MB $20
80 MB – 160 MB $40
160 MB and over $100
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Cyndi Rademacher
FOIA Officer
From: Niles Coalition
Hello Cyndi,
This is from a recent Chicago Tribune article* entitled: Niles-Maine Library Board failed to follow law and notify state librarian of trustee’s resignation:
"Upon learning of the board vacancy from Pioneer Press/Chicago Tribune and determining that the state librarian’s office had not been notified of it, Kaufman said a letter was sent to the Niles-Maine Library District Board. The board will have 45 days to respond and comply with the library act, she said.
Library Board Secretary Suzanne Schoenfeldt did not respond to messages seeking comment on why she did not notify the state of the vacant trustee seat. She addressed the matter briefly and vaguely in a statement she read during the library board’s Dec. 15 meeting.
In the statement, Schoenfeldt said the board had received a letter from Illinois State Library Director Greg McCormick “regarding notification of board [vacancies] to the state librarian and county clerk within 60 days of the [vacancy] occurring and within 60 days of it being filled.”
Schoenfeldt twice mistakenly used the word “vaccine” instead of vacancy when reading the statement."
To that effect, please consider this request amended as such:
Please provide the letter sent by Illinois State Library Director Greg McCormick that warned Niles-Maine District Library Board Secretary Suzanne Schoenfeldt of her failure to report a vacancy on the board.
Thank you.
From: Niles-maine District Library
January 31, 2022
Via email
Niles Coalition
Re: December 21, 2021 FOIA Request
Dear Niles Coalition:
Thank you for writing to the Niles-Maine Public Library District (“Library”) with your request for information pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq. (“FOIA”). On December 21, 2021 the Library received your request FOIA request in which you requested
Any and all communications (including but not limited to email or written letter) from the Illinois Secretary of State with the following domains specified in TO: or FROM fields: @ilsos.gov; @senatorram.com; @ilga.gov; @senatormartwick.com; @ilhousegop.org
2) Any and all written records (including but not limited to hard-copy documents, memos, emails, word processor documents, PDF documents, PowerPoint files, etc.) that contain the following terms: "Secretary of State'; "Jesse White"; "State Librarian”; “Illinois state Library"
On December 29, 2021 the Library responded that the request was voluminous in nature as defined in Section 2(h) of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act in that your FOIA request asks for more than five (5) different categories of records 5 ILCS 140/2(h). Specifically, there are more than five (5) categories to your request and notified you that you had ten (10) business days (until January 13, 2022) to amend and/or narrow your request.
On January 10, 2022 we received a response by mail to our request to amend and/or narrow your original request. As you did not narrow or amend your request and your requests continued to be voluminous the District moved ahead to respond to your request and assess any fees permitted under Section 6 of the Freedom of Information Act. The District also extended its time to respond to the Request for an additional ten (10) business days.
On January 24, 2022 the Library received your letter dated January 18, 2022, in which you amended request 122076-93815603 as such:
Please provide the letter sent by Illinois State Library Directory Greg McCormick that warned Niles-Maine District Library Board Secretary Suzanne Schoenfeldt of her failure to report a vacancy on the board.
Library Response
Responsive documents are attached. They have been redacted according to 7(1)(b) of FOIA: Certain private information, as defined in Section 2(c-5) of FOIA is exempt. 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(b). Private information, as defined by FOIA, includes a person’s home address, home phone number, social security number, driver’s license number, medical records, biometric identifiers and personal financial information. 5 ILCS 140/2(c-5).
Appeal
You have a right to have the partial denial of your FOIA Request reviewed by the Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). You can file your Request for Review with the PAC by writing to:
Public Access Counselor
Office of the Attorney General
500 South 2nd Street
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Fax: 217-782-1396
E-mail: publicaccess@atg.state.il.us
You also have the right to seek judicial review of any denial by filing a lawsuit in the State circuit court. 5 ILCS 140/11. If you choose to file a Request for Review with the PAC, you must do so within sixty (60) calendar days of the date of this denial letter. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). Please note that you must include a copy of your original FOIA Request and this letter when filing a Request for Review with the PAC. The undersigned is responsible for this partial denial.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Cyndi Rademacher
FOIA Officer
From: Niles Coalition
Hi,
Thanks so much for your help with this request! We really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Niles Coalition
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