Monday, July 1, 2013
Bill Pysson questions FOIA Procedures for Boone County
The following email was sent to Sub Committee Chairmen last Thursday. The item is on the agenda for Monday’s Admin & Legislative Subcommittee which meets Monday, July 1, 2013 at 6:00PM,
From: Bill Pysson
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 12:16 PM
To: Karl Johnson; Ken Terrinoni; Denny Ellingson
Cc: Bob Walberg; Michelle Courier; ,
Subject: FOIA compliance by
Recent communications with the Building Department and the County Administrator have shocked me. Please review the documents which I have attached.
A denial of a Freedom of Information Request was sent to my constituent without informing him of his appeal rights by an employee (using the employee’s signature) and the employee is not trained in FOIA requirements. I don’t understand how this is possible.
Additionally I received a statement from Mr. Terrinoni that according to the States Attorney that it is “not a violation to have a non FOIA trained personnel respond”. I find that statement to be inconceivable and incompatible with the required training which board members and FOIA officers are required to complete by the Attorney General.
I request that the PZB Subcommittee, Administrative Subcommittee and/or other appropriate officials comply with the following requests:
1. Who is the FOIA officer for inquiries to the Building Department and Zoning Compliance Office? Are all the individuals named on the county’s website (http://www.boonecountyil.org/page/foia) fully FOIA trained? (Quite naturally this request is not for any county department administered by an elected official.)
2. Provide an administrative review (by an employee who is fully FOIA trained as a FOIA officer) of all FOIA request which were answered by personnel not FOIA trained. Upon review provide whatever remedial action that is required. I request that a summary of the findings be submitted in writing to the county board.
3. Have our States Attorney provide (preferably in writing) a statement regarding county board members’ responsibilities in insuring that county departments (not supervised by an elected official) are complying with FOIA requirements. And possibly explain, Mr. Terrinoni’s email statement about when there is and when there is not a violation of the Freedom of Information Act.
I thank everyone in advance for their prompt response to these requests.
Based upon previous requests, I am sending a copy of my request to the States Attorney but understand that I cannot expect a reply unless a subcommittee chairman or department head requests her opinion. I trust that the information supplied warrants her assistance.
BILL PYSSON
Boone County Board
The County Administrator has sent this response, dated June 28 but sent (by email) June 1.
The following is taken from the Boone County website: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/government/FAQ_FOIA_Public.pdf
Here is the page on the Boone County Website which indicates FOIA Officers.(http://www.boonecountyil.org/page/foia)
Note that Roger Tresemer is listed as a FIOA Officer. According to Mr. Terrinoni’s memo above, Mr. Tresemer is not FOIA trained.
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