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Stanley council reinstates most public-records fees but drops $18 special service charge
Summary
Council clarified a prior vote and reinstated the public records fee schedule while excluding an $18-per-hour special service charge for requests requiring more than four hours of staff time; the motion passed 3-2.
The Stanley Town Council voted 3-2 on Feb. 10 to reinstate its public records fee schedule while excluding an $18-per-hour special service charge for requests that require more than four hours of staff time.
Planning Director Sarah Penley and Council Member Brendan Sweeney clarified that the Council’s earlier action was intended only to remove the special service charge—not the entire fee schedule. Manager Steven Denton warned that complex public-records requests can be costly for the town, noting potential IT charges of $150 per hour and legal review at $175 per hour.
Sweeney moved to reinstate the fee schedule with the exclusion of the $18 special service charge; Council Member Chase Hannifin seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-2, with Sweeney, Hannifin and Corey Kelly voting in favor and Leigh Anna Helms and Marsha Miskelly voting against.
Opponents argued the change could limit access or shift costs to residents, while supporters said it balanced transparency with the town’s staffing and budget constraints. The minutes do not record any immediate operational changes to how staff will process requests.
