Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Records topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cohoes ethics board says FOIL requests must use official form; emailed requests declined
Summary
At its April 15 meeting the Cohoes Board of Ethics declined to accept a FOIL request submitted by email, with Chair Stanley Szozda and other members saying the board requires use of its official request form and specificity in requests; no formal policy change was made.
The Cohoes Board of Ethics declined to accept a freedom-of-information request submitted by email at its April 15 meeting, with Chair Stanley Szozda saying the board requires use of the official FOIL request form and that requests must be specific.
"I did not accept a FOIL request that was in email format. We have a form available. The form needs to be used," Chairperson Stanley Szozda said. He told members the request sought information already available online and that, even if the board accepted it, the request as written would have to be denied for lacking specificity. Other members agreed with his position.
The exchange did not produce a formal change in board procedure; members discussed the issue and affirmed the existing approach that requesters should submit the board's FOIL request form and provide clear, specific descriptions of the records they seek. The board did not identify the requester by name during the meeting.
Board members also discussed other administrative matters during the meeting—membership recruitment, the board's budget request and proper storage of board paperwork—but made no decisions on those items.
The meeting was opened at 6:09 p.m. and adjourned at 6:16 p.m.
