FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, a son of Vermont printers, recalled during the New England First Amendment Coalition’s annual luncheon today that he learned from a young age the importance of free speech. “We were taught that people have a right to practice any religion they want […]
NEFAC honors each year individuals who have promoted and defended the First Amendment throughout New England. During its annual ceremony, the coalition presents the Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award, the Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award and the Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award. Learn more about previous ceremonies: 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | […]
R.I. Needs Less Spin, More Transparency | The Providence Journal 12.21.15 “We are outnumbered,” said Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition. “The rise of PR and the decline of watchdog journalism should be a serious concern for the public. The goals of the news media and the PR industry are […]
By Philip Eil By now, it’s clear the Obama Administration can’t be trusted to accurately describe its own transparency. The rhetoric simply doesn’t match the reality. The president has claimed he’s running the “most transparent administration in history” and yet a host of news organizations — from the Atlantic, to Bloomberg Business, to The New […]
By Jim Condos Vermonters deserve good government – and that includes an open and transparent government. We are proud of our state and our collective ability to overcome any difficult issue we may encounter. As Vermonters, when we see a problem, we know we can fix it through hard work and a dose of common […]
By Steph Machado At least two heartbreaking deaths of toddlers occurred in Vermont recently and the state’s Department for Children and Families may have been able to prevent them. In one case, police said 2-year-old Dezirae Sheldon was murdered by her stepfather, just weeks after DCF and a judge allowed the child to return home. DCF […]
What fees are associated with requesting public documents? An agency may charge the “actual cost” for providing a copy of a public record. To determine “actual cost”, the secretary considers only: The cost of the paper or the electronic media onto which a public record is copied; A prorated amount for maintenance and replacement of […]
What fees are associated with requesting public documents? New Hampshire’s Access to Public Records law does not specify what fees a public agency may charge. The law does state that a public agency to charge for the actual cost of copying a records. However, the fees may not exceed the actual cost. The Act also […]
What fees are associated with requesting public documents? Copies of public records shall be provided at a reasonable fee. If a search is necessary to retrieve the record, the requestor will be responsible for the actual expense of the search. Upon request, a public agency must provide a a detailed itemization of the costs charged […]
By Samantha Allen Sometimes a little persistence goes a long way. My editors at The Sun of Lowell came across a tip last summer, just after we learned the Westford fire chief of 37 years was announcing his retirement rather suddenly. His announcement came just a week before it was effective, and on the day […]