Right-to-Know Policy

Open Record Officer:  Bonnie Messersmith. Contact information: 232 Smith Street, Jersey Shore, PA 17740, phone 570-398-0104, fax 570-398-3041; or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

General:

All documents deemed to be public records shall be available for inspection, retrieval, and duplication at the Borough Office during normal business hours (Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) with the exception of weekends and holidays.

Requests:

Requests shall be made in writing to the Open Record Officer by using the Right-to-Know Form.

Fees:

Paper copies shall be $.25 a page, per side. The certification of a record is $1.00 per record. Specialized documents including, but not limited to blueprints, color copies, and non-standard size documents shall be charged the actual charge of production. If mailing is requested, the cost of postage will be charged. The Borough shall require prepayment if the total fees are estimated to exceed $100.

Response:

The Borough shall make a good-faith effort to provide the requested public record(s) as promptly as possible. The Open Records Officer shall cooperate with those requesting records to review and/or duplicate original Borough documents while taking reasonable measures to protect Borough documents from the possibility of theft, damage, and/or modification.

The Open Records Officer shall review all written requests for access to public records. As soon as possible, but no later than five (5) business days after receiving a written request to access public records. The Open Records Officer shall respond to such requests in writing consistent with Act 3 of 2008, the Right-to-Know Law.

If access to a record is denied, the response shall include a reason for denial as stipulated in Act 3 of 2008, the Right-to-Know Law.

Contact Information for Appeals:

If a written request is denied, the requester may file an appeal in writing to Office of Open Records, 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2234.

Appeals of criminal records shall be made to the Lycoming County District Attorney, Ryan Gardner, Esquire, Lycoming County Courthouse, 48 West 4th Street, Williamsport, PA 17701.

Appeal Process:

The appeal shall be filed within fifteen (15) business days of the date of mailing of the Borough’s response or within fifteen (15) days of a deemed denial. The appeal shall state the grounds upon which the requester asserts the records is a public record and shall address any grounds stated by the Borough for delaying or denying the request.

RESOLVED and ENACTED this 12th day of January 2009 by the Jersey Shore Borough Council by Resolution 01.12.2009. A copy of the Resolution is available by contacting the Borough Office.