Good turnout for RTK Session

Last night's Right To Know Session at Mt. Lebanon Library had a good turnout. I saw lots of familiar faces, including Mt. Lebanon Manager Keith McGill. He was the only one representing an agency. There was no representation from the MTL School District or from any other local government.

The evening began with State Representative Dan Miller introducing the Executive Director of the PA Office of Open records Erik Arneson. Erik began with a PowerPoint presentation, followed by an update from Dan on proposed current legislation, including Senate Bill 411.

Dan and Erik took questions from the audience up until the very last minute the library was open. One of the questions that sticks out in my mind was the question about attachments in a Right To Know. Here is the background. ORO Bonnie Cross would not include the attachments in a RTK which Nick M. requested. She felt that Nick needed to specifically request attachments. Seriously. I'm not joking. I don't know where she gets this stuff. Erik said that the attachments must be included with the requested public records. I hear that she is going to attend an Open Records event next week. I did hear that the assistant manager, Ian McMeans is the back up ORO. I hope he attends too.

I want to thank Dan Miller's office for sending the presentation, as well as thank both Dan Miller and Erik Arneson for a very informative session.

Save the date

Save the date for this very important seminar. When State Rep. Dan Miller was a Mt. Lebanon  commissioner, he treated all documents that were not from executive sessions as public information. Go to the podium and ask a question. If Dan had a copy of the information at his fingertips, he would walk the copy to the speaker. Those days are long gone.

Now, we have a commission who appeals the Office of Open Records final determinations. Our commissioners appealed TWO of the OOR final determinations that were granted in my favor.

My case is now going before Commonwealth Court. See the sidebar for more information.

Through another RTK, Tony DeNicola admits to Susan Morgans that anything that goes to the municipality is public information by default. Except. In. My. Case. 

Please plan to attend this very important seminar. I hope to see our public officials there. They need it the most.

Erik Arneson Tweets from the OOR

• Tweets
 
• Tweets & replies
 
• Media

1. Erik Arneson ‏@ErikOpenRecords  6h6 hours ago

   The 1st half of 2016 was the 2nd busiest 1st half of a year ever at the OOR. #opengov #RTKL

Appeals Filed in the First Half of 2016

7 JULY 2016 / ERIK ARNESON

A total of 1,146 appeals were filed with the Office of Open Records in the first half of 2016. Here’s the monthly breakdown:

• January – 122
• February – 317
  
• March – 184
• April – 141
• May – 198
• June – 184

That’s the second-busiest first half of the year ever at the OOR. Here’s a comparison of appeals filed in the first six months of each year the OOR has existed:

• 2016 (Jan. to June) – 1,146
• 2015 (Jan. to June) – 1,181
• 2014 (Jan. to June) – 1,017
• 2013 (Jan. to June) – 1,129
• 2012 (Jan. to June) – 1,064
• 2011 (Jan. to June) – 908
• 2010 (Jan. to June) – 601
• 2009 (Jan. to June) – 560

State Representative Dan Miller is hosting a seminar with Erik Arneson on September 15, 2016 at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library. Save the date!

Right To Know Information Session

State Representative Dan Miller has invited us to a Right To Know Information Session. For those of you who are not on Facebook, here is the information:

Dan sponsored an event similar to this a few years ago with Nathan Byerly, also from the PA Office of Open Records. Nate made an excellent presentation. It was well attended by people from all over the area. This time, the Executive Director will be speaking with us. Mr. Arneson is quite familiar with Mt. Lebanon. I am looking forward to meeting him in person.