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Marlborough officials say code rewrite aims to clarify process, limit disruptions for staff
Summary
Town officials said repeated on‑demand inspection requests have disrupted staff work and that the proposed code change is intended to create uniform procedures—accepting written requests by email, mail or in person—and to protect staff time while continuing to provide access.
Councilman Michael Appler Jr. explained the Board’s rationale, saying staff have faced multiple incidents of people demanding immediate access at Town Hall and that "staff cannot stop their work to search for records on demand." He framed the proposed code change as a clarification intended to align practices with neighboring municipalities and to reduce what officials described as harassing or disruptive requests.
Supervisor Corcoran reiterated that the purpose is not to restrict access but to set consistent procedures. He told the hearing the clerk’s office "dedicates a significant amount of time processing FOIL requests" and asked the public to submit more specific requests so staff can provide timely responses; he also noted the Board will accept written requests by email and provide documents electronically when possible.
