County counsel reviews FOIA and conflict-of-interest rules with Greene County supervisors

County legal counsel provided the Greene County Board of Supervisors an overview of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Conflict of Interest Act during the June 13 meeting.

On FOIA, the presenter explained that meetings and most records are presumptively open, described typical exemptions (public-safety, social-service records), and noted that FOIA requests do not have to be in writing. "FOIA basically is the state law that ensures that your meetings are going to be open to the public and that documents or records, county records are open to disclosure to the public," the presenter told the board. The speaker walked members through practical steps (posting agendas, designating a FOIA officer, and the county’s five-business-day response window) and cautioned that willful violations can trigger civil penalties.

On conflicts of interest, the presenter said the law uses a narrow definition focused on financial benefit to the official or an immediate family member, described what "immediate family" means for disclosure purposes, and advised members to consult counsel when unsure. Board members asked about retirement accounts and exchange-traded funds, and the presenter explained thresholds and the option to recuse in cases of perceived or actual conflicts. The presenter also described the process for obtaining written legal opinions and noted that, with permission, the county attorney may forward an opinion to the Commonwealth’s attorney to obtain an additional bar against prosecution.

Supervisors thanked the presenter and sought follow-up clarifications on training options and whether FOIA training is available online; the presenter offered to research and return with answers.

The presenters emphasized practical compliance steps and encouraged members to bring specific situations to counsel for written guidance.