Select Board denies public-records appeal over providing meeting recording on personal flash drive

The Town of Orange Select Board voted May 7 to deny a public-records appeal filed by Kevin Wilson concerning access to a meeting recording on a personal flash drive.

During the special meeting the board discussed Mr. Wilson’s request to receive a recording on his personal flash drive and whether the town must provide records in that specific format. A Select Board member moved to deny the appeal, saying the Public Records Act does not require a specific method of disclosure and that the requested recording is available on the town’s website. The motion was seconded and adopted.

The board then authorized Select Board Chair Steve Simpson to issue a written decision, developed with the town attorney, formalizing the denial. The chair and others explained the town’s cybersecurity policy: town technology does not permit private USB drives to be inserted into municipal equipment because of virus and hacking risks. The clerk offered alternatives, including emailing the requested recording or directing the requester to the recordings section of the website.

Kevin Wilson told the board he believed the denial was improper and said he would pursue the matter in court if necessary, claiming the town charged him $10 for a thumb drive and that the drive he provided had not been plugged into town equipment. Board members responded that staff had offered multiple ways to access the record and that the town must protect municipal systems from potential cybersecurity threats.

The board recorded the denial and directed the chair to issue a written decision. No further outcome was announced at the meeting.