How should a North Carolina local government respond to the following public records requests? First, a request for a list of all building permits issued to governing board members or their relatives. Second, a request (submitted after October 1, 2010 under the revised personnel privacy law)  for a list of the date and type of each dismissal, suspension, or demotion for disciplinary reasons within the past ten years for any law enforcement officer employed by the agency.

How should a North Carolina local government respond to the following public records requests? First, a request for a list of all building permits issued to governing board members or their relatives. Second, a request (submitted after October 1, 2010 under the revised personnel privacy law)  for a list of the date and type of each dismissal, suspension, or demotion for disciplinary reasons within the past ten years for any law enforcement officer employed by the agency.

As I mentioned in my last post,

As I mentioned in my last post,

In 2009, the General Assembly enacted new electronic notice and public comment requirements with respect to the imposition of, or increase in, certain fees and charges assessed by local governments, and (at least potentially) sanitary districts and water and sewer authorities. See S.L. 2009-436 (S698) (hereinafter “2009 Act”).

In 2009, the General Assembly enacted new electronic notice and public comment requirements with respect to the imposition of, or increase in, certain fees and charges assessed by local governments, and (at least potentially) sanitary districts and water and sewer authorities. See S.L. 2009-436 (S698) (hereinafter “2009 Act”).

[Updated 8/26/2010 to include link to list of approved computer equipment manufacturers and television manufacturers.] This wasn’t a big year for changes to local government purchasing and contracting in North Carolina, although there were significant changes affecting North Carolina state agency purchasing and contracting.  Since this blog focuses on local governments, this post highlights those small changes affecting them, and mentions in passing the changes affecting State entities.

[Updated 8/26/2010 to include link to list of approved computer equipment manufacturers and television manufacturers.] This wasn’t a big year for changes to local government purchasing and contracting in North Carolina, although there were significant changes affecting North Carolina state agency purchasing and contracting.  Since this blog focuses on local governments, this post highlights those small changes affecting them, and mentions in passing the changes affecting State entities.

Imagine that you’re a local government IT administrator, clerk, manager, or other employee, and your job requires you to have access to employee and board members emails for your unit of local government. A member of your governing board contacts you and says, “I need to review all the emails sent to or received by the HR director during the past week.” Your first instinct is – “Hey, this is my boss – an elected official – asking me for information. I’d better provide it!” “But then again,” you think, “Some of this information might be confidential.

Imagine that you’re a local government IT administrator, clerk, manager, or other employee, and your job requires you to have access to employee and board members emails for your unit of local government. A member of your governing board contacts you and says, “I need to review all the emails sent to or received by the HR director during the past week.” Your first instinct is – “Hey, this is my boss – an elected official – asking me for information. I’d better provide it!” “But then again,” you think, “Some of this information might be confidential.