RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT REQUEST FORM
DATE REQUESTED___________________________________________________________
REQUEST SUBMITTED BY ____E-MAIL ____U.S. MAIL ____FAX
____IN-PERSON
NAME OF REQUESTER ________________________________________________________
STREET ADDRESS____________________________________________________________
CITY/STATE/COUNTY_________________________________________________________
TELEPHONE (Optional)________________________________________________________
RECORDS REQUESTED:
*Provide as much specific detail as possible
so the agency can identify the information. The Township will not identify
unspecified records or conduct research for a requestor.
DO YOU WANT COPIES? ______YES or
______NO
DO YOU WANT TO INSPECT THE
RECORDS? ______YES or ______NO
DO YOU WANT CERTIFIED COPIES OF
RECORDS? ______YES or ______NO
____________________________________________________________________________
RIGHT TO KNOW OFFICER_____________________________________________________
DATE RECEIVED BY THE AGENCY______________________________________________
AGENCY FIVE (5)-DAY RESPONSE DUE__________________________________________
If the requestor wishes to pursue the relief and remedies
provided for in this Act, the request must be in writing. (65
P.S. Section 67.702). Written requests need not include an
explanation why information is sought or the intended use of the information
unless otherwise required by law. (65 P.S. Section 67.703).
GENERAL REGULATIONS
ACCESSIBILITY OF DOCUMENTS
Regulations governing
access to public records are established in
The Right-to-Know Law
defines certain important terms:
Record – information,
regardless of physical form or characteristics, which documents an activity or transaction
of an agency and that is created, received or retained pursuant to law or in
connection with a transaction, business or activity of the agency. It includes information in document and other
formats.
Financial record
– includes (1) any account, voucher or contract dealing with (i) the receipt or disbursement of funds by an agency or
(ii) an agency’s acquisition, use or disposal of services, supplies, materials,
equipment or property.
Public record
- a record, including a financial record, of a Commonwealth or local agency
which is (1) not exempt under Section 708 of the Law [which identifies a number
of exceptions for public records]; (2) is not
exempt from being disclosed under any other Federal or State law or regulation
or judicial order or decree; or (3) is not protected by a privilege.
Privilege
- includes the attorney work-product doctrine, the attorney-client privilege,
the doctor-patient privilege, the
speech and debate privilege or other privilege which is recognized by a court
interpreting
Legislative record
– includes a financial record, the minutes of, record of attendance of members
at a public hearing or public committee meeting, all recorded votes taken in a
public committee meeting, administrative staff manuals or written policies.
The reason for a
request to access public, financial or legislative records is not material.
A request for access
to public records must define those to which access is requested with
sufficient specificity to enable
Public records are
available for access during regular business hours of the Township. A requestor may ask, initially, for access to
a record to review that record. There is
no charge to access and review a record.
Requests for copies of records are subject to those fees as are
established by resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
Generally, a record
will be provided to a requester in the medium requested if that record exists
in such medium. Otherwise, it will be
provided in the medium in which the record exists.
The Township has no
duty to create a record that does not exist.
Generally, a request
for copies of public records shall be accompanied by payment of the fees for
such copies as are then in effect. Such
request and payment may be made after inspection of records and identification
by the requestor of those copies desired.
Except for those oral
or verbal requests authorized by Resolution adopted by the Board of
Supervisors, requests for access to public, financial or legislative records
shall be in writing and submitted to the Township’s Open Records Officer.