This is why government slows to a crawl. We are required to comply with time-consuming requests such as this:
“Copy of the calendars, included but not limited to, GroupWise calendars maintained on the County server, for the time period October 1, 2009, through September 22, 2010, created by the following County employees: The County Executive, Planning Department Managers and Planners (current and prior), Karen Frakes and members of the County Council. Please provide me with an electronic record in electronic format. I will review the hard copy of calendar records that are not available in electronic format. If any documents are being withheld or redacted from this request, please provide a redaction log containing the information required under the Public Records Act. Please advise me whether or not records relevant to this inquiry were created but have been deleted. I also request a log identifying the deleted records and the basis for the deletion.”
Ken Mann always welcomes comments on his blog.
Ken,
ReplyDeleteGovernment is not a "private" country club on Long Island. It's an entity that willingly provides transparent information about government to citizens.
Grow up!
Excellent comment, Anon, however I recommend posting it on Ken's blog as he is much more likely to read it there. Your posts are welcome here as always.
ReplyDeleteI posted at Ken's blog as well:
ReplyDeleteIt is very obvious that communications are taking place bewteen developer attorney’s and the county council via emails and direct meetings on issues that are otherwise required to have extensive public process. Last night I testified regarding an introduced ordinance that was written by attorneys representing a group of property owners that want to be added to Bellingham’s UGA. The recitals were word for word written by Belcher Swanson, the law firm representing the property owners in July. “Fishing” around led to knowing where the introduced ordinace came from.
Under the guise of “settlement” the majority of the council has been attempting to circumvent county code and has been receiving legal advice and direction for attorneys representing property owners that are in a legal dispute with the county.
Public records request may be a pain and may take up a lot of time, but the are vital for understanding how government works and critical for the public to be able partipate in county government.
Is Ken Mann going to resign because he does not like Public Disclosure Requests?
ReplyDeleteDan McShane is correct, many gems are uncovered by simply finding a few records and emails.