Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Town Council enacts Public Records Policy

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By KEVIN NEVERS

The Chesterton Town Council has enacted a public records policy, per the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA).

It did so by unanimous vote at its meeting Monday night.

Highlights from the new ordinance:

* “This policy shall be interpreted and construed so as to promote full access to the town’s public records; provided, however, that when making public records available, the town shall prevent unreasonable invasions of privacy, shall protect confidential information, shall protect public records from damage or destruction, and shall prevent excessive interference with the efficient operation of essential government functions.”

* “The public shall be entitled to inspect and copy public records upon request,” with the Town Manager designated as the “primary point of contact for members of the public.”

* “The town shall not permit any information obtained from an electronic data storage system maintained by the town to be used for commercial purposes. . . . Notwithstanding any other provision in this policy, the town shall not be required to generate records or lists of names and addresses unless required by statute.”

* “All requests for inspection or copying of public records must be in writing on a form prescribed by the town and must identify the records being requested with ‘reasonable particularity.’ . . . The records, if disclosable, will be produced within a reasonable time. The town shall determine whether a particular record is disclosable or excepted from disclosure in accordance with the APRA.”

* There will be no fee charged for the simple inspection of records. Copies of records will be provided on request at a charge of 10 cents per page for black-and-white documents and 25 cents per page for color copies. Per APRA, the cost for copying of oversized documents, color photographs, tape recordings, and computer discs shall be the actual expense for copying, including the cost of materials.

* The request form is available at the municipal complex, 1490 Broadway.

Snow

In other business, Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg reported that his crews have been busy with snow clearance. “It’s been a long week,” he said. “Friday, Saturday, Sunday, today.”

Schnadenberg expressed his gratitude to the Building and Engineering departments for helping with snow removal, to the Police Department for assistance with vehicles stranded in alleys, and to the Fire Department for plowing municipal parking and spaces.

West Morgan Ave. Sewer Re-lining

Meanwhile, Utility Superintendent Dave Ryan reported that the contractor for the West Morgan Ave. sewer re-lining project has not yet finished the job.

Weather permitting, the contractor expects to be back on site on Friday, Ryan said.

Interviewing

Park Superintendent Bruce Mathias reported for his part that candidates for the position of Assistant Superintendent are now being interviewed.

 

 

 

Posted1/29/2019

 
 
 
 

 

 

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