From The Times-Tribune, July 29

Susquehanna County officials take open-records requirements to heart

BY LISA SCHENCKER, Staff Writer

In light of a recent statewide survey, Susquehanna County has adopted a formal policy to make public information more public.

County commissioners adopted the policy July 27 after county workers denied a reporter access to records of jail overtime and county-solicitor fees — both public information — during an Associated Press survey in February. The results of that survey were published in May.

“Obviously, judging from that, some people were not familiar with the law itself,” said county Commissioner Roberta Kelly. “It was a good opportunity for us to have a uniform policy in place and educate everybody on the subject.”

During the February survey, which The Times-Tribune participated in, hundreds of employees from 50 Pennsylvania newspapers and a television station requested public records from county and municipal offices statewide.

Of six Northeastern Pennsylvania counties, Susquehanna was one of four where reporters could not gain access to public records. Reporters also couldn’t gain access to the records in Lackawanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. Reporters gained partial access to public records in Pike and Luzerne counties.

Counties are required by state law to have written policies regarding access to public records, but this is Susquehanna County’s first such adopted document, said Chief Clerk Suzanne Brainard. Before the policy, county workers relied on state documents to understand the law, she said.

Ms. Brainard said the new written policy, which was modeled after those of other counties, will hopefully clear up confusion among workers and residents over how to access public records.

The new policy says all requests for access to public records must be submitted in writing and be directed to the chief clerk. The county has five days to grant or deny requests.