The Board
of Selectmen and School District 16 have reached a new low with their
demonstration of disdain for the citizens.
They are supporting House Bill (HB) 646, which would allow government
agencies to charge for the time it takes to fulfill right-to-know requests that
are submitted pursuant to RSA 91A. The
RSA makes it clear that the citizens have a right to information that is not
being withheld because it meets confidentiality standards. RSA 91A provides citizens with easy and
affordable access to information held by local and state governments and is a
key tool in the protection of citizens from the government. As the RSA states in its preamble, “Openness
in the conduct of public business is essential to a
democratic society."
HB 646 is supported by the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the state’s School Boards Association and the Exeter Board of Selectmen. Why do these organizations support HB 646 and oppose the citizens right to have access to records? The answer is simple, they don’t want anyone to oversee their actions and they don’t want to be accountable to the citizens. The concept of cost recovery is a scheme to make access to public records so expensive that the average citizen will not be able to afford to participate in the process. Once this is achieved, the pesky citizens will go away and they will be able to conduct their business without interference and oversight. It is important to remind the individuals in these organizations that they are employees of the citizens, and not nobility, and they should be working to help the citizens and not shut them out of the process.
HB 646 is supported by the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the state’s School Boards Association and the Exeter Board of Selectmen. Why do these organizations support HB 646 and oppose the citizens right to have access to records? The answer is simple, they don’t want anyone to oversee their actions and they don’t want to be accountable to the citizens. The concept of cost recovery is a scheme to make access to public records so expensive that the average citizen will not be able to afford to participate in the process. Once this is achieved, the pesky citizens will go away and they will be able to conduct their business without interference and oversight. It is important to remind the individuals in these organizations that they are employees of the citizens, and not nobility, and they should be working to help the citizens and not shut them out of the process.
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