[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of
Raymond as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 2-25-1991]
It shall be the policy of the Town of Raymond that Town records
be made available for public acquisition.
For purposes of this policy, "public records" are those which
have been placed on microfilm at a cost to the Town. Any group or
private individual requesting acquisition shall first make a written
request and payment to the Town of Raymond prior to the preparation
of such documents.
Fees for such material shall be established by the Board of
Selectmen.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The schedule of fees is on file in the
Town offices.
[Adopted 12-30-1991]
A.
The Town of Raymond, as a municipal subdivision of the State of New
Hampshire, is committed to the tradition of promoting openness in
the conduct of its affairs.
B.
In this effort, officials of the Town will conduct the business of
the Town in accordance with RSA 91-A, while at the same time protecting
the individual privacy of its citizens and employees.
C.
The Town of Raymond hereby adopts a procedure outlining the process
for disclosing public records.
A.
Public records will be disclosed by the Town of Raymond in accordance
with the following procedure:
(1)
Persons wishing to inspect or receive copies of public records are
requested to submit requests in writing to the Town Manager, care
of the Town Office Building, Epping Street, Raymond, New Hampshire
03077.
(2)
The Town Manager will determine whether the record requested is a
public record.
(3)
If it is determined that the record is public, any citizen may inspect
such records during the regular business hours of the Town office
and may make memoranda abstracts or photographic or photostatic copies
of the records.
(4)
Photocopy equipment, operated by the Town Office staff, will be available.
The fee to photocopy documents at the Town Office is outlined in the
Town Fee Schedule.
(5)
Whenever access to public records is requested, Town officials will
make a diligent effort to produce the record. However, Town officials
are not required to create a record where one does not exist. If public
information is requested in a format which does not exist, the Town
is not required to create that format.
(6)
The Town may provide a printout in lieu of the original documents,
provided that it can be produced in a manner that does not reveal
confidential information.
(7)
If the requested records are not immediately available, the Town
Manager, within five business days, will make the record available,
deny the request in writing with reasons or furnish a written acknowledgment
of the request and a statement of the time reasonably necessary to
determine whether the request shall be granted or denied.
(8)
If a public record is unavailable for a limited time because of its
removal for use by a Town official in discharging his/her official
duties, this is not a violation of the requirement that public records
be available for inspection and copying.
(9)
Although not mandated by statute to provide information at its labor
and expense, Town officials, however, will assist citizens in obtaining
information whenever it is reasonable to do so.
(10)
In accordance with RSA 91-A, public records stored in computers
shall be available in the same manner as records stored in public
files, except that access to work papers, personnel data and other
confidential information shall not be made available.
B.
This procedure does not include access to records maintained by the
Town Clerk/Tax Collector. This information may be obtained through
the Town Clerk/Tax Collector.
