CHICAGO (AP) - The Illinois attorney general's office has told Metra board members they violated the state's Open Meetings Act when they approved salary increases for two members late last year.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office recommended this week that Metra board members take action on the salary increases during a regularly scheduled public meeting.
Though the agency does not agree with Madigan's office's opinion, Metra said Tuesday it would make a decision on the salary issue at an upcoming board meeting, agency spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said.
``Because the attorney general is making the recommendation that we do this in a public forum, certainly we will comply with the recommendation,'' Pardonnet said.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that board members came to a consensus during a Dec. 17 executive session on the salaries of Philip Pagano, Metra's executive director, and Richard Tidwell, the agency's deputy executive director.
Though Metra chairman Jeffrey Ladd has the authority to give pay increases, he does not do so without board approval, according to a letter dated Feb. 28 from Assistant Attorney General Terry Mutchler to Metra.
Metra general counsel Michael Noland has said no final action was taken at the December closed-door meeting.
Along with requesting the board to take action on the salary increases in a public meeting, Mutchler also offered to provide the Metra board with training on the Open Meetings Act.

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