Officials seek directives on public records law

The state Open Records Law had not been significantly changed since 1957.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County commissioners said Wednesday they are waiting for recommendations from the state commissioners’ organization to determine how they will comply with the new state public records law, which contains significant changes in what information is available to the public.

The County Commissioners’ Association of Pennsylvania has informed commissioners that the law, which was signed Feb. 14, requires each government agency to appoint an open records officer.

Commissioner Kenneth Amman said CCAP is analyzing the act and how best to implement it.

Commissioners are waiting to hear, for example, whether each courthouse office must establish an open records officer or whether commissioners should appoint one to serve all county offices.

Commissioner John Lechner said that an appeals office also has to be established.

He said the bill presents a “drastic change” in the public records law by transferring the burden of proof to the government agency, not the citizen, to determine if a document should not be made public.

“We need to structure it properly so we can run this thing the way it needs to be run,” he said.

According to the Web site of state Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), who supported the bill, Senate Bill I amended the state Open Records Law which had not been significantly changed since its passage in 1957.

Brubaker said the new law makes the presumption that all public agency records are public unless they fall under specific exceptions, among them, Social Security numbers, medical records, police investigative records and information that would threaten domestic security.

Also Wednesday, commissioners announced that Staley’s in Sharpsville will be paid $6,700 to move a communications tower to the new District Justice Larry Silvis’ office, and Wallace Builders, Pulaski, will build the base for $7,980.

The new office is being built on Pa. Route 208 near Grove City and expected to be completed in the spring. Quotes were not sought for the job because there are few businesses that do this type of work, commissioners said.

Wallace is general contractor for the building construction.