Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Foia Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Burr Ridge approves part-time records clerk to handle rising FOIA requests
Summary
Trustees approved creating a part-time records clerk position (999 hours/year) for the police department to handle growing FOIA demands tied to body and in-car cameras; staff said police FOIA compliance costs are roughly $100,000 annually.
The Burr Ridge Board on Feb. 23 approved creating a part-time records clerk in the police department to manage an expanding volume of Freedom of Information Act requests.
The police chief told trustees FOIA requests have increased substantially in recent years because of body-worn and in-car cameras and that current administrative staff spend significant time fulfilling those requests. The chief asked for a part-time position of up to 999 hours a year to provide dedicated FOIA support.
Evan, speaking for staff, put a conservative estimate on police-related FOIA costs at about $100,000 a year, citing legal costs and staff time. Mayor Grasso and several trustees framed some requests as burdensome and discussed concerns about anonymous or repetitive filings. "People should have reasonable access to government information," Mayor Grasso said, but also urged that requests not be abused.
Trustee Anita and others suggested exploring shared services with neighboring municipalities, but Evan and staff said differing systems and workload make a flexible part-time model preferable. The board approved the creation of the position by roll call vote reported as 6-0.
The clerk position is intended to free sworn and administrative staff for other duties; staff will return with job details and implementation timing.
