PR 99-15 (1999).

Case DateOctober 19, 1999
CourtRhode Island
Rhode Island Attorney General Opinions 1999. PR 99-15 (1999). State of Rhode IslandDepartment of the Attorney GeneralPR 99-15 (1999)PR 99-15 Smith v. Watch Hill Fire DistrictUnofficial Finding PR 99-15October 19, 1999Mr. George B. SmithWest Hartford, Connecticut 06107Re: Smith v. Watch Hill Fire DistrictOUR File No.: PR 99-0230 Dear Mr. Smith: The investigation into your Access to Public Records Act (APRA) complaint is complete. You allege that the Watch Hill Fire District (Fire District) improperly denied you access to several categories of public records. I. Facts In September 1998, you forwarded a letter (hereafter "original letter") to the Fire District requesting over twenty categories of documents. Apparently, many documents were supplied, however, according to your May 1999 complaint, the following documents were not furnished: (1) records identifying the assignment of Fire District parking stickers, (2) minutes of a meeting referenced in then-Fire Chief Greene's April 6, 1998 memorandum, (3) Mr. Robert Weisberg's full report (including diagrams and drawings), (4) schematics of the complete audible and inaudible fire signaling systems, (5) all financial and lease documents pertaining to the merry-go-round, and (6) "[a]ll instructions, guidelines, rules and regulations pertaining to all duties and responsibilities of the tax collector including the assessment of penalties, interest, and the auctioning of properties, as these items are not authorized by the Charter." In addition, you complain that the Fire District has required you to prepay for documents. After reviewing your complaint, this Department notified you that your original letter to the Fire District did not request "[a]ll financial and lease documents pertaining to the merry-go-round," as your complaint had alleged. Consequently, we informed you that before this aspect of your complaint could be investigated, you should request these documents from the Fire District. Mr. George B. Smith October 19, 1999 Page 2 of 5 Thereafter, you forwarded a second complaint to this Department. This complaint indicated that you indeed had requested documents relating to the merry-go-round and a bathing beach, and that you indeed had been denied access to: (1) an itemization of the 1997 lessee expenses, (2) a description of the bathhouses (including the total number of units), (3) the availability of employee parking and income from parking, (4) the breakdown of income from the...

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