[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Cheltenham as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-16-2008 by Res. No. 38-08]
A.Â
The Township Public Information Officer is designated
as the Open Records Officer of the Township, effective January 1,
2009. The Police Department's Administrative Services Division Commander
Lieutenant is designated as the Open Records Officer of the Police
Department, effective January 1, 2009. In the absence of the Open
Records Officer, the Township Manager shall act as Open Records Officer.
The Board of Commissioners may make a final decision on a portion
of a request, or an entire request, which shall supersede the initial
decision by the Open Records Officer.
B.Â
The Open Records Officer shall receive requests submitted
to the Township under Act 3 of 2008,[1] direct requests to other appropriate persons within the
Township or to appropriate persons at another entity, track the Township's
progress in responding to requests and issue interim and final responses
under the Act. The Open Records Officer shall maintain complete copies
and/or records of the responses to all requests (electronic requests
or paper records).
[1]
Editor's Note: See 65 P.S. § 67.101
et seq.
C.Â
Employees and officials of the Township are hereby
directed to forward any and all public requests for records to the
Open Records Officer.
The Right-to-Know Law[1] provides that an agency may promulgate regulations and
policies necessary in order for the agency to implement the Act. Attached
hereto as Exhibit "A"[2] are regulations promulgated by the Township regarding
the procedures and policies necessary to implement the Act. The administrative
regulations and policies may be amended from time to time by the Township.
A.Â
Prior to granting a request for duplication of records,
the requestor shall prepay an estimate of the duplication fee if a
request is expected by the Open Records Officer to exceed $100. If
the actual cost is less than the estimate, the Open Records Officer
shall return the difference to the requestor. If the actual cost is
higher than the estimate, the requestor shall pay the difference prior
to the copies being given or sent to the requestor.
B.Â
The charge for granting a request for official certification
of a record shall be $1 per record certified in addition to the photocopy
charge.
A.Â
Pursuant to Section 707(b)(3) of the Right-to-Know
Law,[1] all building plans and architectural drawings and building
specifications for all buildings in the Township shall not be disclosed
publicly, but may be released to the owner of record or a design professional
authorized, in writing, by the owner of record.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 65 P.S. § 67.101
et seq.