Predecisional deliberations
New Pa. records office running at hectic pace
November 29, 2009 |
Terry Mutchler, executive director of the state
Office of Open Records, has a quick response when
asked how things are going. " 'Busy' is the short
answer," Ms. Mutchler said last week. "We're just
overwhelmed."
Ms. Mutchler and her nine-member staff routinely work 12-hour days or longer to keep pace with a flood of paperwork.
To date, they have processed 1,006 appeals, conducted 300 training sessions around the state on the new Right-to-Know Law and fielded more than 5,000 e-mail and telephone inquiries. Read More...
Ms. Mutchler and her nine-member staff routinely work 12-hour days or longer to keep pace with a flood of paperwork.
To date, they have processed 1,006 appeals, conducted 300 training sessions around the state on the new Right-to-Know Law and fielded more than 5,000 e-mail and telephone inquiries. Read More...
Opinion: State must close open records loophole
April 10, 2009 |
It took no time at all, only about three months,
for elected Pennsylvania officials to mount a
highly significant challenge to the state's
fledgling Right-to-Know Law. Most observers
expected a push against what had been hailed by
lawmakers last year as a comprehensive defense
against efforts to keep the public in the dark,
especially the practice of conducting secret
deliberations before springing a decision upon
citizens left to wonder how they got there. And,
indeed, it appears Pennsylvania's reputation as a
Land of Secrets remains in intact. Read
More...
Opinion: OOR decision on 'draft' policy disappointing
April 07, 2009 |
In a disappointing decision, on March 23, 2009,
the Office of Open Records found that a draft
policy that was distributed to a school board for
deliberation at a public meeting – and approved
at that meeting – was not a public record.
Read
More...
Pa. newspaper group blasts open-records ruling
April 03, 2009 |
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania Newspaper
Association has sharply criticized the state Open
Records Office for a ruling that the group says
would allow school boards and other agencies to
conduct more public business behind closed doors.
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More...
Opinion: Office of Open Records issues damaging decision
April 02, 2009 |
The Office of Open Records (OOR) has dealt a blow
to open government, apparently finding that a
budget discussion among a quorum of a school
board was not "deliberation" for Right to Know
Law purposes because it was, in the words of the
OOR, an "informal" discussion. If this decision
stands, it could have terrible repercussions for
the public's right to know. Read
More...