Is Cherry Township violating Right To Know Law?

We've been informed a Right to Know request has been made to the Township Supervisors, to which there has been no response from anyone. The request was sent via email to the following address: cherrytwp@epix.net. If this is not the correct email address, someone in the office of Supervisors should contact the State of Pennsylvania and make the necessary corrections.

WHO IS SUBJECT TO THE LAW: Agencies Must Comply
Local Agencies: Any political subdivision, intermediate unit, or charter, public trade or vocational school [or] any local, intergovernmental, regional or municipal agency,
authority, council, board commission or similar governmental entity.

WHAT IS COVERED BY THE LAW: Records, not Questions
A record is defined as “any information regardless of its physical form or character that documents a transaction or activity of an agency AND is created, received, or retained pursuant to law OR in connection with a transaction, business or activity of an agency.” Records can take many forms, including papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, film or sound recordings, information stored or maintained electronically and a data-processed or image-processed documents. Note that e-mails can also be a
form of public records, subject to any exceptions.

EXCEPTIONS: Protects Certain Information From Disclosure
The law contains 30 exceptions, cited in Section 708, that permit an Agency to withhold records. An Agency may deny release of a record if it falls within one of the 30
exceptions designed to protect information that is confidential or may jeopardize safety or investigations. Types of records that can be withheld include records related to personal or public security, DNA/RNA records, autopsy records, social security numbers, personal financial information, personal email addresses, marital status,
identity of a covert law enforcement officer, home address of judges or law enforcement, confidential source records, victim information.

HOW TO FILE A REQUEST
A citizen can file a Right-to-Know request in four ways. You can submit your request
by:
1. Fax
2. Electronic mail
3. In person
4. U.S. Mail

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE AGENCY
An Agency has five business days to respond in writing to: 1) grant the request,
2) deny the request (citing the legal basis for denial/partial denial) or
3) invoke a 30-day extension for certain reasons.

The clock starts the day after the request is received during regular business hours.

PENALITIES
The law provides a civil penalty of up to $1,500 if an Agency denies access to a public record in bad faith and up to $500 per day when an Agency does not promptly comply
with a court order to release records under the act.