The Day brings to light legislative proposals to limit public information

An editorial today by semi-retired journalist, Morgan McGinley, highlights attention of 17 bills making there way through the General Assembly that would limit the public’s right to what is currently public information. We bring this up here on this blog because the current administration has not been friendly to the rights of the public to get access to public documents or to attend meetings that should be open under the Freedom of Information Act. In fact, the behavoir of the current administration has eroded the understanding of local officials knowledge of the public’s rights and the level of access to information.

Not without example, shortly after taking office at the end of 2007, the current administration “conspired” with members of the Zoning Commission to keep secret a document ( a legal opinion) that was requested by residents at a public hearing. Ostenibly, it was kept secret because it undermined the committments to pre-determined decisions already made by Zoning Commission members before the public hearing was ever opened. One resident made a follow up request in writing to have the opinion made public, but was further denied access. The whole matter was then appealed to the Freedom of Information Commission where a zoning commission member dodged a subpeona to appear and left a minor town official on the hook to answer questions. The current administration was left untouched by the minor scandle.
Unfortunely, those responsible were not held accountable by the Commission and remain in office without the public having adequate knowledge of their actions.

Its important to contact your elected state officials and ask them to oppose any bills that would limit the public’s right to PUBLIC information.