OPEN RECORDS POLICY – RIGHT TO KNOW LAW, ACT 3, 2008

ACCESS

Public records of the Lebanon County Firefighter’s Association [Hereinafter shown as LCFA] shall be available for inspection and requesting photo-copies by request in writing  to the Right – To – Know (Hereinafter shown as RTK) Officer or Alternate Officer in writing on the appropriate form.

Requests shall be addressed to the address shown above. NOTE: The Association has no office facility and the Post Office Box is the official location to receive mail etc.

FEES

Paper copies will be at a cost of $ 0.10 per page per side. If mailing is requested, the actual cost of postage and required mailing container will be charged.  FAX copies will be available at a cost of $ 0.50 per page. If  “True & Correct Certification” is requested, an addition charge of $2.00 per certification will be added. If a diskette is requested the Association will provide it  at a cost of $1.00 per diskette. A new diskette will be necessary each time records are provided.  The Association will require prepayment of fees if the total fees are estimated to exceed $100.00.  

RESPONSE

The Association will make a good faith effort to provide the requested public records as promptly as feasible. The designated LCFA Officer(s) shall co-operate with those requesting to review and/or duplicate original LCFA documents while taking all reasonable measures to protect the documents of the LCFA from the possibility of theft and or modification.

The designated RTK officer or alternate shall review all written requests for access to records as soon and possible, but no later that five (5) business days after withdrawing the request from the LCFA post office box. The designated  (RTK) officer or alternate shall respond to all such requests in a manner consistent with ACT 3, Signed into Law February 14, 2008, effective January 1, 2009.

 APPEAL PROCESS

If a written request is denied or deemed denied, the requester may file exception(s) with the Executive Committee of the LCFA within fifteen (15) days of the mailing date of the Association’s denial. The exception(s) shall state grounds on which the requester asserts that the record is a public record and shall address any grounds stated by the LCFA for denying the request.

The Executive Committee of the LCFA shall make a final determination on the exceptions within thirty (30) days of the mailing date of the exceptions. The Executive Committee may hold a hearing on the issue during the thirty (30) day period. If the Executive Committee determines that the denial was correct, it must provide a written explanation to the requester. The requester may appeal a final determination to the Court of Common Pleas, County of Lebanon, Pennsylvania or a District Justice within thirty (30) days of denial or final determination.

Adopted and Spread upon the Minutes of the Lebanon County Firefighter’s Association meeting in regular session on November 17^th, 2009, Convened at the Kutztown Community Fire Co., Myerstown, Pennsylvania    

Resolution doc      Right To Know Request Form