Suffolk creates FOI office
By AARON APPLEGATE, The Virginian-Pilot
© January 18, 2007
Last updated: 10:59 PM
Suffolk City Council will create a special office to better respond to residents and members of the media who want access to government documents.
The idea, unveiled Wednesday, was partially spurred by recent news reports criticizing the city's compliance to the Freedom of Information Act, City Attorney Ed Roettger said.
The plan is to set up a separate office staffed by an attorney trained to handle FOIA issues. Also, an employee in each city department would be trained to help better process requests for information.
FOIA requests in Suffolk now go through an assistant city manager.
Roettger said the new office, which he hopes to open in March, also would be an effort to "encourage and facilitate the participation of city residents in local government."
News articles and an editorial in The Virginian-Pilot in the past four months raised questions about the city's justification for a holding a closed meeting and the city's responses to requests for public documents.
Vice Mayor Curtis Milteer applauded the new initiative, saying he hoped it would result in fewer complaints about slow response time and hefty charges for providing public documents.
© January 18, 2007
Last updated: 10:59 PM
Suffolk City Council will create a special office to better respond to residents and members of the media who want access to government documents.
The idea, unveiled Wednesday, was partially spurred by recent news reports criticizing the city's compliance to the Freedom of Information Act, City Attorney Ed Roettger said.
The plan is to set up a separate office staffed by an attorney trained to handle FOIA issues. Also, an employee in each city department would be trained to help better process requests for information.
FOIA requests in Suffolk now go through an assistant city manager.
Roettger said the new office, which he hopes to open in March, also would be an effort to "encourage and facilitate the participation of city residents in local government."
News articles and an editorial in The Virginian-Pilot in the past four months raised questions about the city's justification for a holding a closed meeting and the city's responses to requests for public documents.
Vice Mayor Curtis Milteer applauded the new initiative, saying he hoped it would result in fewer complaints about slow response time and hefty charges for providing public documents.
