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Akron Beacon Journal Posted on Sat, Jun. 12, 2004 How the public records audit was conducted TOM GAUMER Associated Press CLEVELAND - Work on an audit of Ohio's public records started when a committee of the Ohio Coalition for Open Government decided it wanted to gauge access to public records. The coalition last fall appointed Tom O'Hara, managing editor of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, and Tom Gaumer, editor of computer-assisted reporting for The Plain Dealer, to lead the effort. The coalition was formed by the Ohio Newspaper Association, a trade organization established in 1933 that represents 83 daily and 163 weekly newspapers. http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/8908999.htm?1c Akron Beacon Journal Posted on Sat, Jun. 12, 2004 Survey finds officials provided about one of every two public records sought ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS Associated Press Joanne Huist Smith walked into the Eaton Police Department in southwestern Ohio and asked to see the most recent police reports. The record clerk turned her down. "He said, 'It's just too much of a headache. There are too many,'" said Smith, a Dayton Daily News reporter who helped conduct a statewide survey on the availability of public records in Ohio. http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/8908979.htm? Marietta Times Your right to know: Open records law compliance varies By Jessica Burchard, [log in to unmask] The Marietta Times found that three Washington County public offices made records available to the public only half the time even though state law requires that they be available at all times. http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/0612202004_new02righttomain.asp Newark Advocate Public records can aid everyone By ERIK JOHNS Advocate Reporter NEWARK -- Various media outlets recently executed a statewide audit to determine accessibility of Ohio public records. Six records were carefully chosen by legal experts for their clarity, accessibility and statistical reliability in all of Ohio's 88 counties. Because of these demands, most of those records do not contain information that people might need. http://www.newarkadvocate.com/news/stories/20040613/localnews/636313.htm Cleveland Plain Dealer Open records? In Ohio, it's hit or miss Sunday, June 13, 2004 Tom Breckenridge Plain Dealer Reporter Employees in city halls, police stations and school boards across Ohio followed state law only half the time when asked for public documents, a recent open-records test found. Ohio's records law requires timely access to public records, without undue hassle. But in late April, journalists often faced possessive public officials who wanted to know who they were and why they needed the information. The journalists, collaborating for a statewide survey, did not identify themselves unless asked. http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1087127701110610.xml http://snipurl.com/72g3 Zanesville Times Recorder Public record requests in cities, villages denied more than 20 percent of the time By KELLI YOUNG The (Canton) Repository Kathy Thompson, the clerk-treasurer in McConnelsville, will provide any requested public records: budget sheets, personnel files, payroll numbers. Just don't stop by on Mondays. Or Wednesdays. Or on days that she takes vacation time. Thompson has those days off -- and the only key to the file cabinets that hold the records. http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/news/stories/20040613/localnews/634764.html ( Toledo Blade Article published Sunday, June 13, 2004 Instant access to records rare in Michigan By KIM BATES BLADE STAFF WRITER ADRIAN - Adrian police Chief Mike Martin says he regularly makes improvements when it comes to complying with public record rules in Michigan. So he was troubled when he learned that his office somehow neglected to respond to a public records law request in April, something that's required by state law. "I'm disappointed we didn't do things in keeping with the statute," the chief said this week. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040613/NEWS08/406130367/-1/NEWS Toledo Blade Article published Sunday, June 13, 2004 Walbridge police scrutinize 'suspicious' document-seeker By JOE MAHR BLADE STAFF WRITER To Walbridge Police Chief Lance Martin, there was something suspicious about the woman who had just left the village offices. She had asked to see a record showing the police chief's salary. She had asked where the police station was. She had asked to see the last shift's police reports. And, when he introduced himself, she offered only her first name. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040613/NEWS08/406130342/-1/NEWS Newark Advocate Hottinger concerned with noncompliance of open records law By JIM SIEGEL Columbus News Bureau COLUMBUS -- Saying there's "no excuse" for public officials to deny access to public records, Sen. Jay Hottinger said the Legislature may need to look at an overhaul of the law. "People ought to be able to have unfettered access to these records," the Newark Republican said, reacting to a recent statewide public records audit. "It's discouraging to hear some counties and subdivisions have been making things difficult for people." http://www.newarkadvocate.com/news/stories/20040613/localnews/636337.html ( Toledo Blade Article published Sunday, June 13, 2004 'Trivial' court rulings lead to many exceptions By KELLY LECKER BLADE STAFF WRITER Rulings by the Ohio Supreme Court, particularly in the last decade, have limited access to documents once available under the state's public record law, media law experts said. In some cases, the decisions were made to protect the privacy of people involved. But the rulings led to widespread exceptions in the law, according to David Marburger, a Cleveland attorney who has represented media outlets in public records cases. "The facts of the case are trivial," he said. "The law that it made is gigantic." http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040613/NEWS08/406130341/-1/NEWS Peter A. Kurilecz CRM, CA Richmond, Va [log in to unmask]