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.