NELSONVILLE, Ohio — At its Oct. 9 meeting, Nelsonville City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance that would establish an official policy for processing public records requests.
Introduced by council member Doug Childs, who chairs the city’s judiciary committee, ordinance 60-23 defines what a public record is and establishes a response timeframe; by whom and how records requests are processed; an electronic records policy; the denial and redaction processes; copying and mailing costs; and how to access information on records management.
The ordinance makes it clear that records requests should be fed through the city manager’s office and then to the appropriate record holder(s). The proposed policy states that “No specific language is required to make a request for public records. However, the requester must at least identify the records requested with sufficient clarity to allow the office to identify, retrieve, and review the records.”
Additionally, the policy states that “The requester does not have to put a records request in writing, and does not have to provide his or her identity or the intended use of the requested public record(s). It is this office’s general policy that this information is not to be requested.”
Council will vote on ordinance 60-23 at its next meeting. Childs told the Independent that he developed the policy to align with Ohio Revised Code and guidance from the Ohio Attorney General’s office.
The Ohio Auditor of State’s office rates government entities’ compliance with the state’s public records law. In 2021, its most recent evaluation, the city of Nelsonville received one star (compliant). Public bodies can earn additional stars, to a maximum of four, for implementing best practices defined by the auditor’s office.
Council also heard first reading of ordinance 59-23, which establishes an official restitution policy for the city.
In other business, council formally hired new city manager Tom Cangemi, retroactively to Oct. 2, during the meeting. Cangemi’s $80,000 contract is effective for three years. He gave a brief report, stating that six “abandoned vehicles” and a trailer have been moved following code enforcement citations.
Nelsonville City Council meets every other Monday of each month. Its next regular meeting will be Monday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in Nelsonville City Council Chambers, 211 Lake Hope Drive. Meetings are also livestreamed on YouTube. Find more at cityofnelsonville.com.
