PNA Legal: Agencies must allow inspection of public records
December 19, 2013 PNA Legal | Right to Know Law
Q: Does the Right to Know Law require agencies to allow inspection of public records? I just want to look at meeting minutes, but the agency said I need to pay for copies. Read More…
PNA Legal: Severance package is public record
December 13, 2013 PNA Legal | Right to Know Law
Q: I requested a copy of the severance package of a retiring borough administrator. The package was approved by borough council, but the borough has refused to release it, citing privacy concerns. Aren’t severance packages public?
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State law enables ordinary citizens
December 01, 2013 Right to Know Law
Think government has power over you, that you are helpless? Then you might want to think again. The state's Right-to-Know Law is intended to empower ordinary citizens by presuming that the records of government agencies are public and giving the public the right to inspect and request copies of them. Read More…
Proposal would reinforce legislation’s original intent
December 01, 2013 Right to Know Law
When the state's Right-to-Know Law went into effect Jan. 1, 2009, a significant paradigm shifted: presumption of access. Every record of a government agency became presumed public, and the burden of proof to show why a record is not public was shifted to the agencies. Prior to that law, it was the opposite, said Melissa Melewsky, media law council for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.
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PNA Legal: Proposed county budget in public record
November 21, 2013 PNA Legal | Right to Know Law
Q: The county commissioners approved a proposed budget last night, and when I asked for a copy, they refused and said the public isn’t entitled to a copy. The county commissioners told me that I can look at a copy at the county administration building during specific inspection times, but the hours are very limited. Can they do that? Read More…
PNA Legal: Donation specific to one employee public
November 14, 2013 PNA Legal | Right to Know Law
Q: A school board voted to accept an anonymous donation that can only be used to pay the salary and benefits of the creative arts teacher for one year. Can we get the name of the donor and do we have to file a formal Right to Know Law request? Read More…
PNA Legal: Agency may take 30 calendar day extension
October 24, 2013 PNA Legal | Right to Know Law
Q: An agency requested an additional 30 days to respond to my RTKL request. Their estimated response date gives them 30 business days to produce a final response. Which is correct: 30 business or 30 calendar days for agency’s time extension? Read More…
Northampton Co. D.A. seeks lieutenant governor's budget details
October 11, 2013 Right to Know Law
Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli, a potential candidate for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor, says he's hit a brick wall trying to obtain an itemized, detailed budget of the lieutenant governor's office. On Wednesday, he filed a formal request under the state's Right to Know Act, saying he's been stonewalled for two weeks. Read More…
Judge to decide whether dissertation falls under Right to Know Law
October 10, 2013 Right to Know Law
A woman seeking to review the doctoral dissertation of the Fox Chapel Area School District superintendent will have to wait before learning if the document falls within Pennsylvania's Right to Know law.
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Fairview Twp. supervisors explain why they released internal report on fired police chief
October 10, 2013 Right to Know Law
The confidential report that led to former Fairview Twp. Police Chief Scott Hockenberry’s firing did not have to be publicly released under the state's Right to Know Law. That was township Solicitor David Jones’ advice to supervisors last November when they decided to terminate him. That remains his stance today. But supervisors last week voted 3-2 to go against that advice and release the report prepared by special counsel Anne Zerbe of York. Read More…
