Life just got easier for Plainfielders who make use of the state's Open Public Records Act (OPRA) to request public documents -- including those of the PMUA -- thanks to a big boost from a state appeals court Thursday.
Ruling in favor of the Union County Watchdog Association, the three-judge panel ruled that standardized forms go against the legislative intent to give the public 'unfettered access to government records'.
The court ruled that custodians of public records -- which include the City, the School District and the PMUA -- must honor written requests however filed as long as they identify who is making the request and specifically what records are wanted.
This is interpreted to include requests by letter, fax and even email.
OPRA requests have been in the spotlight in Plainfield recently as the PMUA has stonewalled the citizens' group DumpPMUA (see website here) over requests for public records. While the city has put its downloadable OPRA request form on its website (see here -PDF), thanks to Municipal Clerk Laddie Wyatt, one will search in vain on the PMUA website's forms page to find an OPRA request (see here).
Today's Ledger reports the story (see here) and CountyWatchers has posted a statement on its website (see here). The full ruling is also available as a PDF file (see here).
Suffice it to say that Union County spokesperson Sebastian D'Elia is not happy at losing yet again to the feisty Tina Renna and the UCWA.
- Ledger: "Form not required for public records, court rules"
- CountyWatchers: "UCWA wins OPRA form lawsuit"
- Ruling: "Renna vs. Union County, Docket No. L-1145-06" (PDF)
- PMUA: "Downloadable Forms Page"
- City of Plainfield: "Downloadable Forms Page"
- DumpPMUA: "Homepage"
-- Dan Damon
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1 comments:
HIP HIP HORAY FOR US!
NOW LETS SEE HOW THE ADMINSTRATION OF PLAINFIELD WILL HANDEL THIS.
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