DECATUR - The Decatur City Council voted Tuesday not to release the minutes of dozens of closed-door meetings, some dating as far back as 1999.

Of the almost 50 closed session meetings, the council approved releasing portions of the minutes of only one meeting from August 2004.

"One?" Councilman Dan Caulkins said in disbelief. "One thing out of this whole stack we're agreeing to release?"

"Correct," said city attorney Amy Waks.

"I just find if very difficult to believe that there are things going back to 1999 that we are still holding in confidence," Caulkins said.

Caulkins encouraged the city to make government more open and transparent.

"Knowledge of what goes on in these chambers, I think, is essential," Caulkins said. "We sit here every six months, and we release one item out of a half-inch stack of paper. I wonder about that."

The city's attorneys monitor the city's compliance with sunshine laws.

The state's Open Meetings Act seeks to "ensure that public business is conducted in public view by prohibiting secret deliberations and actions on matters that should be discussed in a public forum," according to the Web site of Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

The council meets in closed session for narrowly defined exceptions to the Open Meetings Act, such as property transactions or union negotiations.

Some of the meetings deal with ongoing projects still under way, Osborne said.

"It's important to release these when corporation counsel says it's OK to release these now," Osborne said.

Osborne said city attorneys are looking out for the city's interest.

"Our attorney is saying, 'Don't release these, release these,' " Osborne said. "As mayor, that's what I've got to listen to. I appreciate your concern, but corporation counsel represents the city.

"You represent the people - that's great. So do I, but we've got to depend on corporation counsel's judgment on this."

Osborne encouraged Caulkins to meet privately with city attorneys to express his concerns.

Osborne and council members Caulkins, Laegeler, Edwards and McElroy approved withholding the meeting minutes. Councilmen Michael Carrigan and Betsy Stockard were absent.

Corporation Counsel Wendy Morthland, the city's chief attorney, was absent from Monday's meeting, and Waks answered questions on her behalf.

Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@ herald-review.com or 421-7985.