Dear Mr. Ingersoll,
Regarding the committee which has been studying land use and potential development proposals along the Chestertown waterfront, we would like to inspect certain public records as soon as possible. Electronic copies are acceptable.
I understand from our conversation 1/8/14 that the town does not have a server which logs council emails, that the town clerk or manager is not routinely copied on email exchanges by councilmembers, and that the request for public records must be communicated to each of them individually. Please note that town business conducted from personal email, on Twitter, on a Blackberry, or via any electronic means is in fact a disclosable public record.
Therefore this single letter makes up four separate PIA requests to four elected or appointed officials. We would like the records without delay, because the matter is time-sensitive and concerns the public’s right to know the activities of elected and appointed officials.
We are happy to come to the town office to read over printouts, or to have electronic copies provided to us. When we say documents, we mean either paper copies or electronic files.
1. From Councilwoman Linda Kuiper, member of the “task force.”
Waterfront Task Force “draft report” and drawings of “waterfront concepts.”
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to Margo Bailey Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to John Moag Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
2. From Mayor Margo Bailey.
Waterfront Task Force “draft report” and drawings of “waterfront concepts.”
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to any task force member Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to John Moag Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
All emails/memos between Margo Bailey and Mitchell Reiss, over the same period.
3. From Mayor Chris Cerino/Planning Commission Chairman Chris Cerino.
Waterfront Task Force “draft report” and drawings of “waterfront concepts.”
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to any task force member Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to John Moag Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
4. From John Moag, Chairman of the “task force.”
Waterfront Task Force “draft report” and drawings of “waterfront concepts.”
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to Al Massoni Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to Matt Tobriner Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to Rebecca Flora Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to Linda Kuiper Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
All emails/memos addressed, cc’d or bcc’d to Mitchell Reiss Oct. 1 to Jan. 6, 2014.
/s/
Craig O’Donnell 443-282-5839
Peter Heck 443-282-5840
Kent County News
Bill Anderson says
Editor,
It is not possible to comprehend the elected officials and administrative staff of Chestertown permitting a significant committee or task force to labor away in what it believed was confidentiality, and then have the Kent County News submit an almost overwhelming FOIA request for documents. In an earlier letter, Mr. Moag had indicated that he (and perhaps other members of the task force) were going to pay out of their own pockets for certain drawings, or whatever, produced for them by a consulting firm. If I were Mr. Moag I would never release to the town anything resembling a collection of data, draft report, or drawings prepared by a consulting firm.
The town doesn’t deserve to have the benefit.
Stephan Sonn says
Editor,
Regardless of what the town and or college may or may not have done, this was turned into a death knell crisis by the nature and style of the KCN investigation. The editor of that publication could have initiated conversation before dropping the axe. There was perhaps even a chance to resurrect this dynamic regional effort under some court-supervised authority, but that was dashed by KCN sensationalism and operating mantra, which is an indication of the level of professionalism employed. Interesting that the names of reporters were offered in documents but not the editor.