Here are the correct answers with some more information.
Q1: The answer is TRUE. It is the ABSOLUTE right of all persons to record all public meetings, including meetings of the Planning Commission, Zoning Hearing Board, and other committees of the Township, as long as the recording does not interfere with the meeting or other people’s ability to view/hear the meeting. The law defines a meeting as "any prearranged gathering of an agency which is attended or participated in by a quorum of the members of an agency held for the purpose of deliberating agency business or taking official action."
Q2: The township has up to 5 business days to respond to an open records request. Under certain circumstances it may request a 30-day extension, but this request must be made within the first 5 days. To make a request for a public record from Newtown Township, use the form found here.
Q3: The answer is YES, BUT... The township can ask why a person wants to obtain open records -- but the requester is not required to answer. However, in some cases knowing the answer could actually help the township better respond to a request.
Q4: The answer is YES. The PA Office of Open Records has established an Official Fee Structure which governs the fees the township may charge under the Right-to-Know Law. For example, for a DVD the township can charge up to actual cost, not to exceed $3.00 per disc.
Q5: The answer is MAYBE. It depends on whether the records document a transaction or activity of the township.
Q6: The answer is TRUE. Requests for audio or video taken by law enforcement are now governed by Act 22 of 2017, which specifies that requests must be made directly to the Police Department Open Records Officer. For information about right-to-know requests for the Newtown Township Police Department, click here.
At a future Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting, I hope to introduce a resolution supporting openness to improve public access to records and encourage training of government employees to ensure compliance with existing laws mandating open records and meetings.
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