[Res. No. 01-05-2009B, 1/5/2009]
The Township hereby designates the Township Manager as the Township Open Records Officer, and the Township Secretary as his or her replacement in the Manager's absence.
The Open Records Officer may be reached at:
Hemlock Township
26 Firehall Road
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Phone: 570-784-6178
Fax: 570-784-3288
[Res. No. 01-05-2009B, 1/5/2009]
All documents deemed public records shall be available for inspection, retrieval, and duplication at the Municipal Building during established business hours (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) with the exception of weekends and holidays.
[Res. No. 01-05-2009B, 1/5/2009]
Requests shall be made in writing to the Township Open Records Officer on a form provided by the Township. Go to http://openrecords.state.pa.us/ (then link to "forms") for a copy of this form. Forms are also available at the Municipal Building.
[Res. No. 01-05-2009B, 1/5/2009; as amended by Ord. No. 11-11-2014, 11/11/2014]
Paper copies shall be charged for in amount as established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. The certification of a record shall be charged for in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors per record. Specialized documents including, but not limited to, blue prints, color copies, and non-standard sized documents shall be charged the actual cost of production. If mailing is requested, the cost of postage will be charged. The Township shall require prepayment if the total fees are estimated to exceed $100.
[Res. No. 01-05-2009B, 1/5/2009]
1. 
The Township shall make a good-faith effort to provide the requested public record(s) as promptly as possible. The Open Records Officer shall cooperate with those requesting records to review and/or duplicate original Township documents while taking reasonable measure to protect Township documents from the possibility of theft, damage, and/or modification.
2. 
The Open Records Officer shall review all written requests for access to public records. As soon as possible, but no later than five business days after receiving a written request to access public records, the Open Records Officer shall respond to such requests in writing consistent with Act 3 of 2008, the Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.
3. 
If access to a record is denied, the response shall include a reason for denial as stipulated in Act 3 of 2008, the Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.
[Res. No. 01-05-2009B, 1/5/2009]
If a written request is denied or deemed denied, the requester may file an appeal in writing to Terry Mutchler, Executive Director, Office of Open Records, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Plaza Level, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225.
Appeals of criminal records shall be made to:
District Attorney of Columbia County
Columbia County Courthouse
P.O. Box 380
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Phone: 570-389-5600
Fax: 570-784-0257
[Res. No. 01-05-2009B, 1/5/2009]
The appeal shall be filed within 15 business days of the mailing date of the Township's response or within 15 business days of a deemed denial. The appeal shall state the grounds upon which the requester asserts the record is a public record and shall address any grounds stated by the Township for delaying or denying the request.
[Res. No. 01-05-2009B, 1/5/2009]
This policy shall take effect January 1, 2009.