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Residents raise FOIA and private-email concerns as animal-control dispute continues
Summary
Several speakers at the June 10 meeting said town business had been conducted over personal email accounts, complicating FOIA production; speakers urged the council to require use of town accounts and to increase transparency.
Multiple residents told the Town of Cheshire Council on June 10 that email correspondence about animal-control issues and other town business had been maintained in private accounts, which they said undermines Freedom of Information Act searches.
David Iommi read email examples he said were produced in response to his FOIA request and described wide use of private Gmail accounts by officials and staff: “Jim Jinx said, in the response, that just use my Gmail is fine rather than the town account,” Iommi said. He said the practice makes it difficult for requestors and town IT to assemble a complete record for multi‑year requests.
Councilors and staff responded that town policy and FOIA law apply to records regardless of the account used, but residents said extra steps and repeated follow-up were required to get complete disclosure. Town staff said they could pursue recovery of private-account material when identified and that they would follow up on requests for specific records.
Speakers urged the council to prohibit use of personal email for official communications that relate to town business so records can be retained and provided consistently under FOIA. Councilors did not adopt an immediate policy change at the meeting but acknowledged the issue and said staff would follow up.
