West Haven City Employees Attend Mandatory FOIA Training

Written by Michael P. Walsh

WEST HAVEN, CT — City employees attended a mandatory training on the state Freedom of Information Act at City Hall on Thursday.

Mayor Dorinda Borer encouraged all West Haven employees, including public safety officers, to attend the training in the Harriet C. North Community Room, saying it was part of her administration's “commitment to promoting government transparency.”

The training focused on the FOI Act, passed by the General Assembly in 1975, and was led by Russell Blair, director of education and communications for the state Freedom of Information Commission.

According to the Commission’s website, the FOI Act is “a set of laws that guarantee public access to public records and public meetings of government agencies in Connecticut.”

Blair said the commission settles disputes that arise when residents believe authorities are not following the law.

Borer welcomed employees to the nearly 90-minute meeting, which included a question-and-answer session, and called the training “extremely important” for the city's workforce.

“Citizens have a right to transparency from their government,” said the mayor.

City Hall and field office staff took part in the training, with the next phase being for elected officials and board and commission members, Borer said.

Blair discussed the basics of the FOIA law, which he defined as “anything related to city affairs,” as well as how to comply with a FOIA request.

The FOI Act gives the public access to meetings and records of public bodies. However, he noted that “public bodies cannot be required to conduct investigations or produce documents that do not exist.”

The City Attorney's Office handles all FOIA requests from the public.

Corporation counsel Paul J. Dorsi said the public should direct FOIA requests to paralegal John Sykes at [email protected].