Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Records topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stanley council rescinds public records request fee schedule in 3-2 vote
Summary
Council voted 3-2 to rescind a fee schedule that charged $18 per hour for public records requests after the first four hours, with proponents citing transparency and opponents warning of taxpayer burdens and the need for clearer language.
The Stanley Town Council voted 3-2 on Jan. 13 to rescind its public records request fee schedule, a change supported by council members who said fees discouraged transparency and opposed by members concerned about staff time and taxpayer burden.
Council Member Brendan Sweeney argued the fee should be removed so residents can access records without incurring charges after four hours. Sweeney said rescinding the fee would “provide transparency and clarity about what was actually said in meetings” and prevent perceived misrepresentation, noting other Gaston County municipalities do not have similar charges.
Town Manager Steven Denton and the town’s legal counsel cautioned that most requests (about 95%, Denton said) can be handled within the town’s four‑hour free window, and that extensive requests impose staff and potential IT or legal review costs. Denton said the town’s examples showed the majority of citizens do not submit records requests and warned that removing the fee could expose taxpayers to costs generated by a small number of high‑effort requests.
Council Member Corey Kelly proposed a 120‑day trial to monitor the number and origin of requests and the hours required, a suggestion that informed the discussion before the vote. The motion to rescind was made by Council Member Brendan Sweeney and seconded by Council Member Corey Kelly; the vote was 3 in favor, 2 opposed (Leigh Anna Helms and Marsha Miskelly).
The meeting record shows legal counsel supported maintaining the policy but recommended clarifying whether the first four hours are included in or excluded from the charged time. Council did not adopt any clarifying language or trial parameters at the January meeting beyond the rescission vote itself.
