Right-to-Know Law

OPEN RECORDS POLICY

On January 1, 2009, a new Right-to-Know Law (the “RTKL”) took effect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under this statute (Act 3), public records of the City of Altoona, and all municipalities, are generally available to the public who request them. The City of Altoona, and all municipalities, are required to make available for public inspection, records which meet the generally outlined qualifications set forth in the Act. For more information regarding the Act, please contact the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records, 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2234, Phone: (717) 346-9903 Fax: (717) 425-5343. They can also be reached at the following website: www.openrecords.pa.gov

PUBLIC RECORD

The Right-to-Know Law defines a public record as information, which documents a transaction or activity of the City, and that is created, received or retained pursuant to law or in connection with a transaction, business or activity of the City.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE RECORDS

Criminal investigative records related to open criminal investigations will be denied under the Right to Know Law. To challenge the denial of a request the requestor will be required to follow the appeal process of the RTKL of the Commonwealth of PA.

LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDINGS

Law Enforcement recordings to include any audio or video recording made by a law enforcement agency under Act 22 of 2017 must use the Law Enforcement Recording Request Form – Act 22 of 2017. The Right to Know Law does not apply to such recordings. Act 22 requires requests to be submitted in person or by certified mail. Requests must be submitted within 60 days of the event, recorded on the Act 22 Form, with ALL of the information provided. The City of Altoona has 30 calendar days to respond.

REQUESTS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Requests for public records must be made in writing by completing and submitting the City’s Right to Know Request Form (PDF). The City of Altoona will also accept the forms supplied for making such requests by the Commonwealth of PA Office of Open Records.

All such requests should be submitted to the City of Altoona’s Open Records Officer as follows:

by mail or in person to:

City of Altoona
Department of Administration
Open Records Officer
1301 12th Street, Suite 100
Altoona, PA 16601

by fax to: (814) 949-2411

by e-mail to: cityclerk@altoonapa.gov

online: https://www.altoonapa.gov/rtkl

If you have questions about open records, you may contact the City’s Open
Records Officer at (814) 949-2486 or by email.

If a requester chooses not to use the City of Altoona Right to Know Request Form, the request will be considered an informal request, not subject to the RTK Law. This means the requester cannot pursue the relief and remedies provided for in the RTK Law.

ANONYMOUS REQUESTS

The City of Altoona will not respond to anonymous requests for records. Requestors must provide valid name, address, phone number and email address.

RESPONSE

The City will respond to your request in the manner required by the Act.

FEES

Paper copies are 25 cents per page, color copies are 35 cents per page, or in accordance with the City of Altoona Fee Resolution, plus the actual cost for postage if mailing is requested. Certification is an additional charge of $3.00 per document. Fees are payable to:

City of Altoona
Department of Administration
c/o Open Records Officer
1301 12th Street, Suite 100
Altoona, PA 16601

If the fee associated with a Right-to-Know request is anticipated to be greater than $100.00, the fee must be paid in advance before the City is obligated to distribute the records.
Additional fee information is available by contacting the City Clerk’s office.

APPEALS

If your request is denied, appeals should be submitted to:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Office of Open Records
333 Market Street, 16th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101-2234.

Appeals are heard by officers of the Office of Open Records of the Commonwealth of PA.

All appeals must be in writing and include:

A copy of the original Right-to-Know Request
A copy of the denial letter
State the grounds you believe the record is a public record – a general statement that the record is public under the law is insufficient
Address all grounds that the Agency (City) raised in its denial

All appeals must be filed within 15 business days of the mailing date of the City of Altoona’s notice of denial or a deemed denial as defined in the Act. All appeals will be handled in accordance with the Act – a general statement that the Agency (City) is incorrect is insufficient.

The Office of Open Records is required to dismiss any appeal that does not include this information.

For more information under the Right to Know Law or Act 22 Audio or Video Recordings go to www.openrecords.pa.gov

Open Records Policy PDF

Right-to-Know Request

REQUEST SUBMITTED BY: E-MAIL/ONLINE FORM

Date of Request

FIRST NAME OF REQUESTER

LAST NAME OF REQUESTER

STREET ADDRESS

CITY

STATE

ZIP

Phone Number

Street Address Associated with Request

If Applicable

Detailed Request

Provide as much specific detail as possible so the agency can identify the information. Text box is expandable for longer requests.

DO YOU WANT COPIES? YES NO

DO YOU WANT TO INSPECT THE RECORDS INSTEAD OF HARD COPIES? YES NO

INSTRUCTIONS WILL PICK UP EMAIL MAIL

ALL REQUESTS ARE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE CITY SOLICITOR. A RESPONSE WILL BE MADE WITHIN 5 TO 30 DAYS

Consent agreement I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANONYMOUS SUBMISSIONS AND CASES CURRENTLY UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE DENIED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DOCUMENT I AM RECEIVING MAY BE INCOMPLETE OR MAY HAVE TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS TO HAVE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY’S REGULATORY UNDERPINNINGS. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO CHARGE ME FOR THIS REQUEST.