Right To Know Request

The Right to Know Law defines a public record as information, regardless of physical form, which documents a transaction or activity of the City, and that is created, received or retained pursuant to law or in connection with a transaction, business or activity of the Municipality. A record is not a public record if:

• It is exempt from disclosure under Section 708(b) of the RTKL; or
• It is exempt from disclosure under any other Federal of State law, or regulation or judicial order or decree; or
• It is protected by a privilege.

Generally, public records are to be open for inspection or duplication in accordance with the RTKL. Records are to be provided in the medium requested if they exist in that medium. Otherwise, they are to be provided in the medium in which they exist. The RTKL does not require the Municipality to give computer access to any requester.

When responding to a request, the Municipality is not required to create a record that does not presently exist. Nor is the Municipality required to compile, maintain, format, or organize a record in a manner in which the Municipality does not currently maintain, format, or organize the record.

To make a request from the Open Records Officer, complete the Right-To-Know Request (RTK) Form.

Make sure when you file a RTK request, you are seeking records and not just asking questions. The law governs release of records, not answering questions.

The Municipality has five business days to respond in writing to:

1. Grant the request
2. Deny the request (citing the legal basis for denial/partial denial)
3. Invoke a 30-day extension for certain reasons

The clock starts the day after the request is received by the Open Records Officer during regular business hours.