Open Record Officer
The Township's Open Records Officer is Angela P. Benner (Township Manager).
Ms. Benner can be reached at 5186 Stump Road, Pipersville, PA 18947, phone (215) 766-8914 Ext 204 or fax (215) 766-9831. All requests should be directed to Michelle Storti mstorti@plumstead.gov
The Police Department's Open Records Officer is Sarah Ferri.
Mrs. Ferri can be reached at 5186 Stump Road, Pipersville, PA 18947, phone (215) 766-8741 Ext 142, fax (215) 766-9831, or by mail at sferri@plumstead.gov
General
All documents deemed public records shall be available for inspection, retrieval, and duplication at the Municipal Building during established business hours 8:00 am - 4:30 pm with the exception of weekends and holidays.
Requests
Requests shall be made in writing to the township Open Records Officer on a form provided by the township.
When filing a RTK request, please make certain you are seeking records and NOT asking questions. The law governs the release of records, NOT answering questions or conducting research.
The Right to Know Law (RTKL) requires that Plumstead Township act upon each non-anonymous written request when such request is made in person, by mail, by fax or by email. The RTKL does not require the Township to act upon an oral request and the Township shall refuse to accept oral requests. In addition, the RTKL does not require the Township to act upon an anonymous request, and the Township will refuse to honor an anonymous request.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records has created and published a standard statewide form on its website that must be accepted by Plumstead Township for the filing of a request. (https://www.openrecords.pa.gov/RTKL/Forms.cfm) Also below is the County’s standard form for requests. Effective February 1, 2020, Plumstead Township will require the standard statewide or Township form be used for the submission of Right To Know requests, and will not consider a request to be a written request pursuant to the Right To Know Law unless the request is submitted on or with the standard form. Beginning February 1, 2020, Plumstead Township will consider any request not submitted on or with the standard form to be an informal request not subject to the Right to Know Law. (The Township reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to use the RTKL as guidance in responding to informal requests for records and/or information.)
RTK REQUEST FORM: (Download Form Here HERE).
Fees
Paper copies shall be .25 per page (black), .50 per page (color). The certification of a record is $5.00 per record. Specialized documents including, but not limited to blue prints, color copies and non-standard sized documents shall be charged the actual cost of production. If mailing is requested, the cost of postage will be charged. The township shall require prepayment if the total fees are estimated to exceed $100.
Office of Open Records - Official Fee Schedule.
(Download Form HERE).
Response
The township shall make a good-faith effort to provide the requested public record (s) as promptly as possible. The Open Records Officer shall cooperate with those requesting records to review and/or duplicate original township documents while taking reasonable measure to protect township documents from the possibility of theft, damage, and/or modification. The Open Records Officer shall review all written requests for access to public records. As soon as possible, but no later than five business days after receiving a written request to access public records, the Open Records Officer shall respond to such requests in writing consistent with Act 3 of 2008, the Right-to-Know Law. If access to a record is denied, the response shall include for denial as stipulated in Act 3 of 2009, the Right-to-Know Law.
Contact Information for Appeals
If a written request is denied or deemed denied, the requester may file an appeal in writing to: Office of Open Records, 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2234. Appeals of criminal records shall be made to the District Attorney of Bucks County. Michelle A. Henry, District Attorney, 55 E. Court Street, 4th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901, 215-348-6344.
Appeals Process
The appeal shall be filed within 15 business days of the mailing date of the townships response or within 15 business days of a deemed denial. The appeal shall state the grounds upon which the requester asserts the records is a public record and shall address any grounds stated by the township for delaying or denying the request.
RESOLVED AND ENACTED this 28th day of August 2008 by the Plumstead Township Board of Supervisors.
Adopted Resolution 2008-16 CLICK HERE
