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Public commenter accuses commission of FOIA overcharge and conflicts; commission says issues are being handled
Summary
Robin Burpee alleged statutory noncompliance with board size, a conflict of interest involving legal counsel and a $3,884.25 FOIA charge; the commission said the FOIA request is being processed and commissioners defended their service and integrity.
Public commenter Robin Burpee of Park Township used her allotted time to raise several formal objections on July 21, alleging the planning commission had been operating with an improper board size and accusing the township’s legal counsel of a conflict of interest related to solar matters. Burpee said she had been charged $3,884.25 for a FOIA request and asked that solar FOIA items "be immediately tabled."
Chair Melissa Kline and other commissioners responded by saying the FOIA request is being processed by the township FOIA coordinator and by affirming they take public concerns seriously. Kline and Ahrens emphasized that commissioners are volunteers who take an oath to serve the township; Kline said the commission will "look into that and make sure that we're doing things properly as public servants." The meeting produced no formal finding on Burpee's allegations; the claims were recorded on the public record and may be pursued outside the meeting record.
