Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1992 [PAGE 239]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1993]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

227

of the College of Law, indicating that the major candidate had declined the job offer. He stated that the search continues. There is also some consideration being given to appointing an interim dean.

Disclosure of Executive Session Actions Under Open Meetings Act

(1) Under an amendment to the Open Meetings Act passed by the General Assembly, effective July 1, 1989, public bodies subject to the Act which conduct business under exemptions specified in the Act must, at least every six months, determine whether the need for confidentiality still exists with respect to each item considered under such exemption. Copies of the minutes of the executive sessions of May through July of 1992 are attached and were released from confidential status. Previously unreleased items from November 1990 through April 1992, are marked to indicate which items considered in executive session are recommended for continuing confidential status, e.g., items of land acquisition in July and September of 1991, March of 1992; personnel matters in April of1992; and pending litigation in June and September of 1991, February and March of 1992. None of these have yet been resolved. (Attached materials are filed with the secretary of the board for record.) The university counsel and the secretary of the board, having consulted with appropriate University officers, recommend that the indicated items retain confidential status at this time and that the president of the University be authorized to release those items when appropriate. It is further recommended that all other matters considered in executive session for the period be made available to the public. I concur.

By consensus, the trustees approved of the recommendation as submitted, formal action to be taken subsequently when the board convenes in open meeting.

Authorization for Settlement

(2) Mr. Higgins presented a settlement offer to the board members for consideration. This was Muganda v. Watkins. In this, the plaintiff alleged that the defendant, after diagnosing the decedent's condition as community-acquired pneumonia, failed to provide appropriate follow-up care or hospitalize decedent when his condition worsened, and, as a result, he expired from pneumonia secondary to blastomycosis. The recommended settlement amount is $285,000.

By consensus, the trustees approved of the recommendation as submitted, formal action to be taken subsequently when the board convenes in open meeting.

Report from Legal Counsel

Mr. Higgins told the trustees that suit had been brought by Winston Smart, an unsuccessful applicant for an academic position at the Urbana campus. He asked that they forward to him all materials they might receive concerning this. Dr. Gindorf asked if a policy might be drafted that would enable the University to relieve administrators of their positions when special personnel problems are involved. It was agreed that this would be discussed further.