[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Nockamixon as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-27-1990 by Ord. No. 63]
A. 
Public records shall include financial records of the Township, documents involving services, materials, equipment or property contracted for, purchased by or in the possession of Nockamixon Township; minutes, orders, decisions, resolutions and the like of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission or other committees of the Township.
B. 
Public records shall not include any record which would disclose the existence, progress or result of any investigation undertaken by Township officials, records pertaining to pending or threatened litigation including any written communication between the Township and the Township Solicitor or any consultant retained by the Township in connection with litigation; documents or records which may harm a person's reputation or personal security; personnel records unless release of same has been authorized by the employee to whom the record pertains.
C. 
Tape recordings of public meetings are public records. However, the Township shall not be required to make tape recordings of public meetings. When a tape recording has been made, it may be retained for a period not to exceed 30 days, for use in the preparation of minutes or for other reference by Township Supervisors or officials. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Supervisors or a court of competent jurisdiction, tape recordings will be erased upon approval of the minutes for which the tape recording was made. A request to listen to the tape recording must be made in writing no later than the date on which the minutes for the meeting to which the tape recording pertain are approved. Copying of tapes will not be permitted.
A. 
Township records and documents shall be available for examination and inspection only during regular business hours of the Township unless arrangements are made in advance with the officer or employee responsible for the records.
B. 
Examination and inspection of Township records and documents shall be made only in the presence of the Township official responsible for said records or a designated representative.
C. 
Township documents and records may not be removed from the Township offices for any purpose except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
D. 
No person shall have the right to immediate inspection and examination of any Township records or documents where such inspection would interfere with normal functioning of the Township office. The Township officer responsible for the records may require that an appointment be made and a time scheduled for examination and inspection of Township records and documents. The Township will make records available and schedule an appointment for inspection and/or copying within a reasonable time of the date when a request is made.
E. 
Township records and documents shall not be removed from file cabinets or from the Township vault except by the Township official responsible for such records, a designated representative of such Township officer or a member of the Board of Supervisors.
F. 
The Township officer may require that any request for Township records or documents by persons other than members of the Board of Supervisors be made in writing, designating the record sought and the purpose for the examination.
A. 
Only Township Supervisors or Township office personnel are permitted to operate the photocopy machine in the Township office.
B. 
The Township officer or employee having custody of the record or document may require that any request for copies of same be made in writing, specifying the documents to be copied and the purpose for requesting same.
C. 
The cost to members of the public for copies of Township records shall be $0.25 per page, each side.
D. 
The Township officer having custody of the record or a designated representative may require that the person requesting photocopies make an appointment and schedule a time for the making of such copies where such work would interfere with the normal operations of the Township office. The copies will be provided within a reasonable time from the date of request.
A. 
Where the officer having custody of the records or documents requested determines that the request for inspection, examination and/or photocopying will require a period in excess of one hour, the officer may impose a fee at the rate of $16 per hour payable to the Township.
B. 
Where such officer anticipates the charging of an extended examination fee, he or she shall require the applicant to complete a written request for this service and notify the applicant of the intention to levy a fee. The officer may require an advance payment of the fee which shall not exceed $64.
Where a request to examine, inspect or photocopy Township records or documents is made by an attorney or person conducting an official investigation by a law enforcement agency, private detective agency or agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or United States government, such request shall be made in writing and a copy of same forwarded to the Township Solicitor for review and approval prior to making the record available for examination and inspection and/or making photocopies of the same.
A. 
The following records shall be in the custody of the Township Secretary/Treasurer, and any request for examination, inspection and/or photocopies of same shall be made to that person: minute book, records pertaining to the laying out, opening and vacating of roads, account books and other financial records of the Township, all correspondence directed to the Township (including requests from persons to be heard, citizen petitions, matters relating to personnel and the like, but not matters related to zoning and subdivision, enforcement and correspondence directed to specific Township officials).
B. 
The following records shall be in the custody of the Township Clerk: Planning Commission records, minutes and correspondence; Zoning and Building Inspector records, Zoning Hearing Board records, minutes and correspondence related documents. The Township Clerk shall also have custody of the records of the Zoning Officer and shall be responsible for inspection, examination and/or photocopying of such records when the Zoning Officer is not in the office.
C. 
The following records shall be in the custody of the Zoning Officer: Zoning Violation Notices, Building and Zoning Permit Applications and records and correspondence related thereto, permits from other governmental agencies which are conditions to use, occupancy or construction upon property.
D. 
The following records shall be in the custody of the Pennsylvania State Police: requests for records pertaining to arrests and investigations, accident reports and any other records shall be made to the Pennsylvania State Police.
[Amended 1-9-2001 by Ord No. 101]
E. 
The following records shall be in the custody of the Roadmaster: records kept in connection with the maintenance, upkeep, repair and paving of roads. Requests for same shall be submitted to him.
A. 
Any person who is dissatisfied with action taken by any Township officer under the terms of this chapter shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Supervisors.
B. 
An appeal shall be in writing and the Board of Supervisors shall render a decision at the next regularly scheduled public meeting occurring at least three business days after the date the appeal is received.
C. 
Any person dissatisfied with the decision of the Board of Supervisors shall have such further right of appeal as may be provided by law.