To the Editor:

At a public meeting, an elected municipal leader lamented the financial distress from Right to Know requests submitted to the municipality. The upset was misguided.

In the municipality, elected leaders appeared to struggle with transparency and provided incomplete information to the public in a possible effort to control the public narrative.

One elected leader over-emoted, at a recent public meeting, grumbling the municipality paid exorbitant solicitor fees for RTK requests from one person. Rather than adopt the “count to 10” stress management technique taught to kids in day care, the official, at the public meeting, slandered the requester, who was not in the room.

Had this leader simply telephoned the requester when the requests were submitted, the leader’s RTK costs might have been zero. Instead, the requests were turned over to the municipality’s solicitor at a cost of perhaps $100 to $200 per hour fee to answer the requests.

The RTK law exists to provide for residents and agencies access to public records. It is a fundamental right and promotes democracy, openness and preserves good government.

Typically, a request may be submitted for not officially reported public information, perhaps an innocent omission. A simple phone call could answer a RTK question.

A disgruntled resident might misuse the law to retaliate against local leaders. There are legal remedies to engage to cease RTK abuse.

A third, an avoidable reason, is when elected leaders refuse to share public information. These are the officials who, when asked simple questions say, “No comment,” or simply do not answer questions.

The RTK law is sacred. It promotes democracy and stifles elected officials from hiding official acts from the public. This behavior allows them to avoid accountability for controversial decisions they make.

Advice to elected officials:

Be truthful with your constituents.

When you get a RTK request, pick up a phone and call the requester.

In good faith, try to provide them, if possible, the information they request. Many RTK requests require a simple answer.

A suggestion to both elected officials and residents:

Visit openrecords.pa.gov to learn about the Office of Open Records, the RTK law, and consider learning about the Sunshine Act.

Bill Leiner Jr.

Coplay