BY CHRISTINE HEISER
After last week’s investigation into Salem, Pelham and Windham’s compliance to the state Right to Know Law, town officials are pleased they passed the test for the most part.
And some changes are in the works to make information even more accessible, especially in regard to police logs.
Reporters went to the towns in the Neighborhood News coverage area without revealing who they were and asked for information from the town offices, school district and police department. Towns and schools were asked for the latest meeting minutes and employee salaries, and police were asked for lists of arrest and
police activities.
The Salem Police Department has, coincidentally and unknown to Neighborhood News, been reviewing their ability to meet Right to Know requests.
“We want to make sure we comply,” said Deputy Chief Bill Ganley.
When the reporter asked for a police log, the police were willing to print one out, but they said it would cost $1 a page, or $158 dollars.
He said that cost did prompt some discussion, and the police were concerned about how that could prevent some people from getting a copy of information they are entitled to.
To fix that, Ganley said they do offer a printed copy of the log for viewing for free, and that they are about to put the media log online.
In this way, the arrests and police activity are available for view anytime to anyone with a computer, and if someone doesn’t have a computer, they can come to the police station and see the information.
He said they don’t charge the media for logs because they’re trying to be a good neighbor, but sees that they should treat the general public the same way, and the best solution was making the log available online.
“Our goal is to be as transparent as possible,” said Ganley. “It benefits us for the public to see how busy we are.”
Salem Town Manager Henry LaBranche said he was pleased the town did so well in complying with the law.
Having employees who’ve been working in town for a few years helps, he said.
“My assistant, she’s been here more than 15 years and she knows,” LaBranche said. “We get several requests a week for some kind of information.”
The Board of Selectmen just sponsored a Right to Know workshop in August as a refresher course, he said.
Pelham
Marie Maruca, the selectmen’s secretary in Pelham, said they go out of their way to get information to people within the five days allotted by the law.
“I think we’re very good about turning things around,” she said. “We have a lot of long-term employees here. A lot of knowlegeable people work here.”
Lt. Gary Fisher at the Pelham Police Department said it’s unusual for residents to go in asking to see the police log, but they do get phone calls asking about arrests.
“We tell them the names and what the charges are, because it’s public information,” said Fisher. “I’m very well aware of the Right to Know Law.”
If residents do go in requesting the police log, Fisher said it can’t be given out immediately, as information such as Social Security numbers and juvenile names must be redacted. However, the log is usually available later the same day.
Dispatchers aren’t authorized to release that information out of the building, he said.
Windham
Windham town, school and police complied with all the information that was requested.
Kathy Davis, human resource coordinator, who provided the town report for salaries and updated salary ranges, did not know it was a reporter asking for the information. She said they usually treat all requests the same.
“We do know what we have to do. It’s public information and we’re public employees,” said Davis.
Windham employees try to keep up with Right to Know Law and attend the municipal conference in Concord each November for updates.
Susan Cad, administrative assistant at SAU 28 for Windham and Pelham, said minutes are kept in a book and approved minutes are on the SAU Web site.
The SAU does not charge residents for copies.
“Anything that’s public information should be available. That’s why we have a Web site so people have easy access to (information),” she said.