Public access audit seeks to embarass, not educate

Editor,

I am writing in response to the editorial printed in the July 7 issue of the Lakes Region Suburban Weekly regarding the “Statewide Audit” of public access to records, conducted by the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. I am very disheartened to learn that this organization felt they had to secretly test public offices to find whether or not they would be allowed access to public records.

All town offices routinely provide public records everyday to anyone requesting them, but the necessity to be specific, as to exactly what you are requesting is imperative. Reports, prepared and printed annually by every town, show specifically the births, deaths and marriages that occurred throughout the year. Individual reports made by each department as to what business that department conducted throughout the year are readily available. Exact figures as to the financial status of the town at the end of that fiscal year are published in the town report and on the Web site, along with detailed tax lien information. This is all public information and is publicized openly.

When I was asked for a tax lien list, I misunderstood the nature of the request since this information is already publicly available. Often times a citizen may ask for a photocopy of a birth certificate when what they really want is a certified birth certificate. Sometimes people ask for a marriage license when what they are requesting is an application for a marriage license. The request for a delinquent tax list can be confused with a list of current tax liens. Some people may ask to pay their taxes but mean they wish to pay the excise tax on their car.

As clerks and tax collectors, we have to ascertain in a quick manner exactly what people are really requesting and the quickest and the most accurate way to accomplish that task of providing you this information or document. Obviously sometimes due to the busy nature of the office or phone inquiries, we may jump to the most obvious interpretation as to what you are requesting, but this in no way indicates that our clerks or tax collectors are untrained or unable to provide public information when requested.

I, as a Tax Collector, get calls all day long from various authorities as well as private citizens requesting such things as payoffs for closings, current owner information, properties for sale, etc. Sometimes only upon several questions issued back to the caller, do I understand what they are really requesting. Many callers will ask if we have a delinquent tax list – 99 percent of the time they are private citizens from another state wanting to buy “tax acquired” property in Raymond but to them it is a delinquent tax list. This request is also made by businesses that buy up mortgages that are in threat of foreclosure.

In closing, I believe that the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition bears some responsibility for defective information or the failure to get the exact information requested from municipal offices in their “sting operation.” In the future they would be well advised to ask specific questions in order to receive the information they are “testing” and expecting the towns to provide. Better yet, why not take a positive approach and contribute to helping to educate the public and government officials as to legally, available information instead of seeking to embarrass dedicated municipal officials.

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