MADELINE ISLAND NEWS AND INFORMATION

D.O.P.E.E.


-----Original Message-----
From: Madeline Island News Organization [mailto:editor@madelineislandnews.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 2:00 PM
To: blueders@isthmus.com
Subject: DOPEE Nominee

 
Dear Bill Lueders:
 
According to your website I saw the following statement:
 
"This year the Council decided against giving an award for Dumbest Open Government Decision (the "Dopee"). There were decisions we disagreed with, but none that seemed worthy of special approbation. Maybe next year. "
 
I think I have some contenders for you. 
 
In September, 2008, The Town Board of Supervisors in La Pointe (Madeline Island) recently declared that the chair of the Town Plan Commission did not have to give up electronic records.  The following is an excerpt from the approved minutes of a recent meeting:
 

Greg Nelson questions portion of memo about information requests not being granted in electronic format Discussion: It is generally agreed amongst board members that the creator of an electronic document on a home computer has a choice whether or not to provide a document for a Public Information Request, that the custodian of the record, the zoning administrator, is the only person required to provide records, and if she is not in possession of this electronic record she is under no obligation to provide it. Mistrust of stability and exchange of electronic record is voiced. It is stated by several board members that there is no record until it is on paper, date stamped and distributed and that any document created on Carl Broberg's home computer is his property. Paper records may be scanned in order to be distributed.

Discussion: Ric Gillman would like the minutes to reflect that that the consensus of the board be placed into the record that Mr. Broberg and the Town Plan Commission does not need to provide records in electronic format in response to Open Record Requests, that only date-stamped paper records need be provided. The clerk asks the board if this is the consensus. All agree. No electronic records prepared at home need be provided to fulfill public information requests, by consensus of the Town Board.

Click on the link below for the entire meeting minutes.
 
http://www.madelineislandnews.com/TB/Minutes/2008-09-09_RTBM_approved_%20Minutes.pdf
 
 
 
I would like to nominate the La Pointe Town Board of Supervisors.
 
Do they qualify?
 
Let me know.
 
Edward Itor
Madeline Island News

 


 

----- Original Message -----

From: Bill Lueders
To: 'Madeline Island News Organization'
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 2:31 PM
Subject: RE: DOPEE Nominee

Excellent nomination. Alas that it is too late. The open records law expressly states that electronic records are records, subject to the law. I'll share this with my members.

 


Oh well, there's always next year.  --Ed

 

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