Source: https://ecode360.com/13544096
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 16:16:06+00:00

Document:
§ 60-3 Creation of position of Open Records Officer.
§ 60-4 Oral/verbal requests for access.
§ 60-5 Written requests for access.
§ 60-6 Processing of requests.
§ 60-7 Requests Under Review.
§ 60-8 Approval of requests.
§ 60-9 Denial of request; appeals.
§ 60-11 Effective date; modification.
Real estate registry — See Ch. 262.
This policy shall govern all requests made for access to open/public records of the Township of Upper Pottsgrove (hereinafter "Township").
The purpose of this policy is to assure compliance with Act 3 of 2008, the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, as amended; to provide access to public records of Upper Pottsgrove Township; to preserve the integrity of Upper Pottsgrove Township's records; and to minimize the financial impact to residents of the Township regarding resources utilized in the receipt and processing of public record requests and the retrieval and copying of public records.
Jack P. Layne, Jr., the Township Manager, is hereby designated as the Open Records Officer, responsible for assuring compliance with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in this policy. In addition, the Open Records Officer may designate certain employees to process public record requests. It is the duty and goal of the Open Records Officer to minimize, where possible, the financial impact to the Township regarding the resources utilized in the receipt and processing of public record requests and the retrieval and copying of all public records.
Oral or verbal requests for access to public records may be honored by the Open Records Officer so long as that verbal or oral request for access to records is made directly to the Open Records Officer. However, if a requester wishes to pursue the relief and remedies provided for in the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, the request for access to records must be in writing.
Written requests for access to public records of the Township shall be addressed to the Open Records Officer and shall be specific in identifying and describing each public record requested. The identification or description of the records should be with such sufficient specificity so that the record can be located without speculation as to the record being sought.
All requests for public records shall be submitted in writing and include the date of the request, the requester's name, address, telephone number, and email address, certification of United States residency, the signature of the requester and, if duplication is requested, appropriate payment.
In no case shall the Township be required to create a public record which does not exist or to compile, maintain, format or organize a public record in a manner in which the Township does not concurrently compile, maintain, format or organize the public record.
Denial of the access to the record requested.
If the Open Records Officer does not respond within five business days of the receipt thereof, the request is deemed denied.
The Open Records Officer shall facilitate a reasonable response to all requests for Township public records. In no case however, is the Township expected to provide extraordinary staff to respond to the requests, but it will respond in a manner consistent with the Township's administrative responsibilities and consistent with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law.
If the request for access is being reviewed, based upon the fact that one of the factors listed in this section applies, the Open Records Officer shall send written notice to the requester within five business days of the receipt of the request for access. The notice shall include a statement notifying the requester that the request for access is being reviewed, the reason for the review, a reasonable date that a response is expected to be provided and an estimate of the applicable fees owed when the records become available.
If the date that a response is expected to be provided is in excess of 30 days, following the five business days allowed for, the request for access shall be deemed denied, unless the requester has agreed, in writing, to an extension to the date specified in the notice. If the requester agrees to the extension, the request shall be deemed denied on the day following the date specified in the notice if the Township has not provided a response by that date.
The record requested contains information which is subject to access as well as information which is not subject to access that must be redacted prior to grant of access. The redacted information is considered a denial as to that information.
The record requires retrieval from a remote location.
A timely response cannot be accomplished due to staffing limitations.
A legal review is necessary to determine whether the record is a public record.
The requester has failed to comply with the requirements of the Township's Open Records Access Policy.
Upon a determination that one of the factors listed above applies, the Open Records Officer shall send written notice to the requester within five business days of the receipt of the request for access. The notice shall include a statement notifying the requester that the request for access is being reviewed, the reason for the review, a reasonable date that a response is expected to be provided, and an estimate of applicable fees owed when the record becomes available. If the date that a response is expected to be provided is in excess of 30 days, following the five business days allowed for, the request for access shall be deemed denied, unless the requester has agreed, in writing, to an extension to the date specified in the notice. If the requester agrees to the extension, the request shall be deemed denied on the day following the date specified in the notice if the agency has not provided a response by that date.
If access to the public record requested is approved, the public record shall be available for access during regular business hours at the Upper Pottsgrove Township Building, 1409 Farmington Avenue, Pottstown, Pennsylvania 19464, unless the Open Records Officer designates an alternative location where the records can be reviewed. Inspections shall be made between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. during any weekday, Monday through Friday, except public holidays or days when the Township building is not otherwise, generally, available and open for business.
The Open Records Officer or designated employee shall cooperate fully with the requester while also taking reasonable measures to protect the Township's public records from the possibility of theft and/or modification. The presence of a designated employee is required when public records are examined and inspected.
The requester may file an appeal with the Commonwealth Office of Open Records (COOR) within 15 days of the mailing date of the Township's notice of denial or within 15 days of the deemed denial. The appeal shall state the grounds upon which the requester asserts that the record is a public record and shall address any grounds stated by the agency for delaying or denying the request.
Within 30 days of the mailing date of the final determination of the appeals officer of the COOR, the requester or Township may petition for review or other relief, as required by the rules of the Court of Common Pleas for Montgomery County. The decision of the court shall contain findings of fact and conclusions of law based upon the evidence as a whole. The decision shall clearly and concisely explain the rationale for the decision. A petition for review under this section shall stay the release of documents until a decision is issued.
The actual postage on any mailing made in response to said request.
An additional $1 per record, if a certification is being requested of the records being produced.
Fees for duplication of public records in the amount of $0.25 per page, which the Township, at its discretion, may waive.
In the event the estimated cost of fulfilling the requests submitted under this policy is expected to exceed $100, the Open Records Officer shall obtain the expected cost in advance of fulfilling the request to avoid unwanted expense of Township resources. Thereafter, the Open Records Officer shall notify the person or entity requesting the copies of the records, and copies will not be made until the cost of the copies, as estimated by the Township Open Records Officer, is paid in advance. Either a supplemental bill or a refund shall be made if the actual costs are different than the Township's estimate.
For specialized documents such as blueprints, color copies, or nonstandard-sized documents, as well as facsimile or microfiche, the actual cost incurred by the Township.
If the record is maintained electronically or in other nonpaper media, duplication fees shall be the fee for duplication on paper.
There is no charge for inspecting the public records. The fees stated above are for requests for copies for public records. However, once the request is fulfilled and prepared for release, the Open Records Officer shall not release the records to the requester until the requester submits the payment associated with the production of the record.
This policy shall be in effect for all requests for public records made on or after the date of the adoption of this policy.
Any and all amendments to fees and any and all future changes to this policy shall be made by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.

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