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Township of Northampton, PA
Bucks County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Res. R-08-15, 10/15/2008; as amended by Ord. 561, 4/25/2012]
A requested of records shall state the records being requested with sufficient specificity and shall, if the requester intends to preserve the right to appeal a decision by the Open Records Officer, complete an information request form provided by the Office of Open Records and/or the Township.
[Res. R-08-15, 10/15/2008; as amended by Ord. 561, 4/25/2012]
The Township hereby designates the Township Manager of the Township as the Open Records Officer in accordance with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq., and said Open Records Officer shall receive requests submitted to the Township under the Right-to-Know Law, direct requests to other appropriate persons within the Township or to another agency, if applicable, track the Township's progress in responding to requests and issue responses, as required by the Right-to-Know Law.
[Res. R-08-15, 10/15/2008]
If a requested record contains both public record information as well as nonpublic record information, the Township may redact the nonpublic information from the record.
[Res. R-08-15, 10/15/2008]
1. 
Upon receipt of a written request for access to a public record, the Township shall make a good faith effort to respond as promptly as possible under the circumstances existing at the time of the request. The response shall not exceed five business days from the date of written request. The failure of the Township to respond in the designated time frame is equivalent to the denial of the request with the following exceptions:
A. 
The request requires the redaction of information within a public record.
B. 
The request requires the retrieval of the document from a remote location.
C. 
A timely response cannot be accomplished due to legitimate staffing limitations.
D. 
A legal review is necessary.
E. 
The requester did not comply with the Township's policies regarding public access.
F. 
The requester refuses to pay fees.
G. 
The extent or nature of the request precludes a response within the required time period.
2. 
If one or more of the above exceptions apply, the Township shall send written notice to the requester within five business days of the request stating the request is being reviewed, the reason for review and the exception that applies, the expected response date and an estimate of applicable fees owed when the record becomes available. If a response is expected more than 30 days after the five-day period, the request is deemed denied unless otherwise agreed to by the requester in writing.
[Res. R-08-15, 10/15/2008]
1. 
If the request is denied, the following will be included with the denial:
A. 
Description of the record requested.
B. 
Specific reasons for the denial, including a citation of supporting legal authority.
C. 
Typed or printed name, title, business address, business telephone number and signature of the open records officer on whose authority the denial was issued.
D. 
Date of response.
E. 
Appeal procedure.
[Res. R-08-15, 10/15/2008]
If the request is denied or deemed denied, the requester may file an appeal with the Office of Open Records or judicial, legislative or other appeals officer designated under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq., within 15 business days of the mailing date of the Township's response or deemed denial. The appeal shall proceed in accordance with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Act. The appeal shall state the grounds upon which the requester asserts that the record is a public record and shall address any grounds stated by the Township for denying or delaying the request.
[Res. R-08-15, 10/15/2008; as amended by Ord. 561, 4/25/2012]
Paper copies will be in an amount as established, from time to time, by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, per page. If mailing is requested, the cost of postage will be charged. If the record is available on a disk, it will be provided by the Township at the cost in an amount as established, from time to time, by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, per disk. A new disk will be necessary each time records are provided. If the Township determines that the total fees will exceed $100, the Township will require prepayment. In the event of a conflict between this section and the fee structure established by the Office of Open Records, the Office of Open Records' fee structure shall control.
[Res. R-96-25, 10/9/1996]
1. 
In addition to any other statutorily permitted warrantless arrest, officers of the Northampton Township Police Department shall be permitted to effect a warrantless arrest of a person violating the following provisions of the Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq.
A. 
Section 5503 (relating to disorderly conduct).
B. 
Section 5505 (relating to public drunkenness).
C. 
Section 5507 (relating to obstructing highways and other public passages).
D. 
Section 6308 (relating to purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverages).
[Res. R-96-25, 10/9/1996]
1. 
Local police officers shall be governed by:
A. 
Rule 71, Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure (Procedure Following Arrest Without Warrant).
B. 
All of the following requirements. The officer has probable cause to believe that:
(1) 
One of the specified crimes is involved.
(2) 
The defendant's conduct is ongoing.
(3) 
The conduct constituting the crime is upon the officer's view.
(4) 
The conduct imperils the personal security of any person, or endangers public or private property.
[Res. R-96-25, 10/9/1996]
1. 
Following any such warrantless arrest, the arresting officer(s) shall:
A. 
Immediately transport the defendant to the Township Police Department for processing and issuance of a citation.
B. 
Process the defendant without unnecessary delay and furnish a copy of the citation.
C. 
Release the defendant, provided that he is no longer in a position to imperil his personal security or the personal security of another.
D. 
In the case of juvenile defendants:
(1) 
Make timely attempts to contact a parent, guardian or other responsible adult who shall have an interest in such juvenile.
(2) 
Release the juvenile to a parent, guardian or other responsible adult promptly after completion of processing and the issuance of a citation.
(3) 
Contact the Juvenile Probation Department to arrange shelter for such juvenile if, after a period of six hours, a parent, guardian or other responsible adult cannot be contacted or shall refuse to accept custody of the juvenile.