Open Records / RTK
Please send all requests for township related information as follows:
Morris Township Open Records Officer
Patti Moore
1189 Oak Grove Road
Morrisdale, PA 16858
Phone: (814) 342-4411
Fax: (814) 342-6882
Email: morristownship@comcast.net
PA Office of Open Records
Commonwealth Keystone Building
400 North Street, Plaza Level
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225
Phone: (717) 346-9003
Email: openrecords@state.pa.us
The following is a brief outline of the procedures to follow when requesting information, pursuant to Act 3 of 2008, the Right-to-Know Law. § 703: all written requests for information should identify or describe the records sought with sufficient specificity to enable the agency to ascertain which records are being requested and shall include the name and address to which the agency should address its response. A written request need not include any explanation of the requester's reason for requesting or intended use of the records unless otherwise requested by law. Once a request has been made, the open-records officer is required to make a determination to grant or deny the request in whole or in part, which will be in writing and which will be sent to the requester. See Act § 903. If the requester does not agree with the determination, the Act provides for certain rights of appeal. See Act § 1101. As allowed under the Act, there are charges for information requests to be reproduced. Please note, "all applicable fees shall be paid in order to receive access to the requested information." See § 901.
The following is a fee outline:
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Photocopying: $0.25 / per page
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Fax: $0.50 / per page
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Postage: Actual Cost
If you are submitting payment by check, please make the check payable to Morris Township.
MORRIS TOWNSHIP OPEN RECORDS POLICY
Requests
Public records will be available for inspection and copying at the Morris Township Municipal Building during normal business hours Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, with the exception of holidays.
Requests shall be in writing and directed to the Township Secretary at the Morris Township Building, 1189 Oak Grove Road, Morrisdale, PA 16858
Written requests shall be on a form provided by the Office of Open Records at this link: http://www.openrecords.pa.gov/Documents/RTKL/RTKRequestForm.pdf
Response
The Township will make a good faith effort to provide the requested public records as promptly as feasible. Township employees shall cooperate with those requesting to review and/or duplicate original Township documents while taking reasonable measures to protect Township documents from the possibility of theft and/or modification.
The Township Secretary shall review all written requests to access to public records. As soon as possible, but no later than five (5) business days after receiving a written request to access public records, the Township Secretary shall respond to all such requests in a manner consistent with Act 100 of 2002, The Open Records Law.
Appeals Process
If a written request is denied or deemed denied, the requester may file exceptions with the Board of Supervisors within 15 business days of the mailing date of the Township's denial. The exceptions shall state grounds on which the requester asserts that the record is a public record and shall address any grounds stated by the Township for denying the request.
The Board of Supervisors shall make a "final determination" on the exceptions within 30 days of the mailing date of the exceptions. The Board of Supervisors may hold a hearing on the issue during the 30 days. If the Board determines that the denial was correct, it must provide a written explanation to the requester. The requester may appeal the final determination to the Common Pleas Court or District Judge within 30 days of denial or final determination.