Once again, GraniteGrok has embarked on another citizen journalism project – a request to the Lakes Region Planning Commission (“LRPC”) for certain materials between it and other governmental agencies, especially those funded by taxpayer monies. There has been much discussion about the nine RPCs here in NH – we are asking for materials so that we can sort fact from fiction from source materials.
The following is the email that I sent to the new Executive Director of the LRPC, Jeffrey Hayes. After that email is the formal RSA 91-A request. We should have our first answer no later than five business days from this morning.
Good morning, Director Hayes,
Please consider this a formal RSA 91-A request for certain documents that the Lakes Region Planning Commission (“LRPC”) should have in its possession and should be available. Our democracy is dependent on open and transparent processes, one of which is that any citizen should be able to to see information that resides at any level of New Hampshire governance and agencies given that his or her tax monies have helped to fund such. As you may well know, there is a lot of discussion happening in and around the activities of the LRPC and its sister organizations within the State of New Hampshire. Studying the source materials will enable me to sort fact from fiction.
Attached is my request in the following formats:
- Open Office (3.2.1)
- Microsoft Office (97/2000)
- Text
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.
Please note: in the same vein of “open and transparent”, it is my intention to blog any and all materials and interactions pertaining to this RSA 91-A request at GraniteGrok.com, New Hampshire’s leading Conservative / Libertarian blogsite (as I have done in the past) – the good, the bad, and any ugly. Our readership (both NH and nationally based) is interested in this type of citizen journalism – their comments may be informative to all of us. In addition, several legislators have expressed interest in this endeavor.
I look forward to your response as well as the Responsive Materials. Please positively affirm that you have received this email. A hardcopy will be sent tomorrow.
Kindest regards,
-Skip
Here is the actual request:
Jeffrey Hayes, Executive DirectorJanuary 12, 2013
Lakes Region Planning Commission
103 Main Street, Suite #3
Meredith, NH 03253Re: Contracts executed between RPC and any and all local, state and or federal agencies
Dear Executive Director Hayes,
Please let me first extend my congratulations upon your appointment as the new Executive Director of the Lakes Region Planning Commission.
This request is made pursuant to Part 1, Article 8 of the New Hampshire Constitution and New Hampshire’s Right to Know Law codified at RSA 91-Aet seq. I am looking for the following described governmental records in the possession or control of the Lakes Region Planning Commission:
- All government / taxpayer funded records, including but not limited to meeting agendas, minutes, e-mails, text messages, electronic data, letters, memos, internal communications, external communications, reports of reimbursable expenses paid to staff or attendees, proposals, agreements, announcements, invitations, RSVP’s, testimony and legal opinions concerning or relating to contracts, agreements, letters of intent and or memoranda of understanding executed or pending between the Lakes Region Planning Commission and any and all local, state and or federal agencies and or departments between the dates of January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013 (inclusive).
- Copies of any and all contracts, agreements, letters of intent and or memoranda of understanding executed or pending between the Lakes Region Planning Commission and any and all local, state and or federal agencies and or departments between the dates of January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013 (inclusive).
- The status of any and all contracts, agreements and or memoranda of understanding executed or pending between the Lakes Region Planning Commission and any and all local, state and or federal agencies and or departments between the dates of January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013 (inclusive).
- A current accounting of funds received and or expended in support of any and all contracts, agreements, letters of intent and or memoranda of understanding executed or pending between the Lakes Region Planning Commission and any and all local, state and or federal agencies and or departments between the dates of January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013 (inclusive).
Electronic copies / versions of any Responsive Documents are preferred – after all, bytes are far more sustainable than reams of paper and chemically created toner (and uses less carbon for transport). Depending on the volume / size of the respondent material, Responsive Materials can be emailed to Skip@GraniteGrok.com or I can arrange for FTP (File Transfer Protocol) transfer facilities to be used (e.g., Dropbox).
I do appreciate your attention to this matter within the alloted RSA 91:a requirement of five (5) business days.
Kindest regards,
-Skip
Skip@GraniteGrok.com
This should be an interesting endeavor.
