Local Municipality says I need to file a FOIL request to obtain their policies. WHY? Help!

In emails with the uppity upps of the municipality office they told me I need to file a FOIL request to obtain their policy and precuder information. I am being stonewalled yet here I am reading from uninformed people posting their personal opinions on this subject when all I am asking for is help in finding ways to obtain their policies and procedures.....FOIL apparently is the only way to go. I have obtained the paper which oddly enough is a single sided sheet with simple questions. I am skeptical because I figured it would be a complicated process. Aslo I must not again. When I asked them if I could get a copy of our service contract/agreement they would NOT give it to me.

It may very well be called a FOIA request but the paper I have and the terms given to my by their employees is its a FOIL request. in either case I don't care what its called...it all surmounts to the same damn thing.

I am going to take a pic of the FOIL paper I retrieved today and post it for u people who keep saying illogical things.

Will someone please tell me how to upload my pic of the FOIL paper?

Earlier in this thread I suggested that you wait to pursue this matter until you had a solid footing. I understand why you would want to move ahead, you have been wronged either by the company or by the employee acting as a private citizen. It's natural to want to fight against this.

I've written a number of long winded post in this thread in an attempt to advise you in an appropriate and productive dispute. Please forgive me for just one more.

I'm sure your thinking, “why should I listen to some random stranger on the internet.” I wouldn't blame you, I'd probably think the same thing. Since I will not divulge my profession on any public forum I can not provide you with any credentials to prove that my advice is sound. I should hope though that through my previous post in this thread that you can see that I do have an above average knowledge of the law and how a situation like this would be handled in the courts. I'm not trying to be some sort of know it all, I truly want to help you as I have others in similar situations.

Today you went forward with your plan, did you mention that the reporter went with you? I may have overlooked it if you did. Just by coincidence there were police officers that confiscated your camera and held it as evidence. This is not just a red flag, this is a 50 foot one waving in gale force winds! Something is happening here that you are yet to be made aware of. Do you remember when I said that if you waited and gave the power company enough rope that they would hang themselves? Well, I think that they are now the ones giving you the rope. You are being stonewalled for a reason and that reason may be to build some sort of case against you. On what grounds? I'm not sure yet but always remember we live in a country that people are frequently prosecuted on very little truth and the party with the most financial backing usually wins. They may be looking to make an example of you. I could sit here typing possibilities all night but what you can be sure of, something is not right here.

Now I will share my last suggestion, I promise unless you directly ask for it I will offer no more advice.

PLEASE stop what you are doing. Don't post another word about this and get yourself an attorney. I'm afraid you will be in need of one. The actions of the police today indicate that some sort of criminal complaint either has or will be made against you. Any prosecuting attorney worth his salt will find your words here even though you have posted anonymously the post can be tied to you. Since you have volunteered your words to a public forum they can be used against you. I wrote of this possibility earlier. With the events taking place at the company you would be wise to be very guarded as to what you share. Don't upload anything. Do not copy and paste anymore emails. You have already provided to much identifying information.

I still believe you should think about taking measures to monitor your meter. This may be where they come at you. It is against the law to tamper with a meter. If they make it appear that you have done so you could be fined and or jailed. You've been told that they intend to cut you off for an unknown reason. Damaging your meter would be the perfect way to not only cut you off but discredit you as well. It has happened before. Many times.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck.

Dear Drama Queen ( or silly troll):

File the FOIA request. Receive your documentation. Get your answer and be done with it.

Enough with the theatrics.

Oh...and pay your bills.

I take it back, you probably arent very good at it afterall. Sounds like a very frustrated worker who will probably end up on yhe other end of a camera sooner rather than later. I am sure someone has thought of filming you and how you treat them during the FOIA request...

It is a sad day when someone actually enjoys holding power over someone else. I do not know what is worse, the actions of doing that or the person who seeks out that job to do that to fill a void. Either way Matt, its just sad.

I request further advice sir or maiam. I have not filed the FOIL paper yet.

zuzu I find your words inspiring and as truthful as I can tell. Please fill me in.

TeamReaper...your inadequate mental capacity amuses me. Thank you.

I apologize teamreaper...it is OJS's inadequate mental capacity that I find amusing. Thank you

LOL - such a victim mentality

Your OP here claimed

- to be one day late, but was actually months late.
- her kid was threatened but kid wasn't
- had electric turned off but it was in fact turned back on
- claimed to be denied information, but wasn't

Ultimately, the OP seeks information from the town. The town reasonably asked for the request in writing. Kookball OP doesn't actually submit the request, but instead comes on here, where you kookball respondents drum up conspiracy theories, encourage fruitless lawsuits, and suggest cameras.

Its pretty simple. In order to precess a record request, the OP needs to fill out a request form.If she wants the information, fill out the request form. That's it. What's the issue ? Where's the problem ?

No one has been denied anything - SHE'S NEVER SUBMITTED THE FORM !

Here's the New York State Law on the matter
[link to www.dos.ny.gov]

exactly...that's all anyone here needs to know.

Sorry, I've had a busy day and have just now had time to check this thread.

I spoke to someone I work with today about your situation to get a second opinion. He is a bit more familiar with criminal prosecution than I am. He confirmed my suspicion that there might be something more than meets the eye here. He asked something that I had not thought about and should of. The camera that the police confiscated, what other pictures were on it? Was there anything that could in any way be interpreted as ... unseemly?

We know a man who took his sd card to a drug store to have his pictures printed and transferred to a cd. He had taken pictures of his young son using the "potty" for the first time. He also had a picture of the same son running through the sprinkler. He snapped the picture at the moment that his water soaked pull up started to give way. His wife had taken some photos of their newborn laying on her belly undressed. (the baby, not the mother) The rest of the photos were just regular family moments that most of us have.

Now this couple had done nothing more than record moments of their family life. To 99% of the population these pictures would be seen as what they were, a preservation of memories. Well, the clerk at the drugstore was part of the 1%. He looked at those pictures and saw children being photographed inappropriately. He called the police who in turn called CPS. When the man came to pick up his photos he was met by the police and arrested. At the same time the police were at his home arresting his wife while CPS too the children.

Eventually after spending a small fortune in legal fees he and his wife were cleared of committing any crime. His children were returned after spending just over a month in CPS custody. This man's family was torn apart and shaken to the core on a ridiculous and unfounded allegation. Even though they were cleared of any wrong doing many people in the community assumed that since charges were filed that they were guilty and would have nothing to do with them. Parents would no longer allow their children to play at the families home. Their 12 year old daughter lost many friends due to the rumors. Eventually they moved to another state and started over. We could overcome the accusations made against the family but not the stigma continued even after their innocence was proven. Last I heard they are doing well in their state.

I'm sure you follow where I'm going with this. Even if the camera has been returned to you but was out of your sight at any time you need to really think about what other photos are on that camera. Don't look at this from a normal persons eyes. If there is any way something on that camera could be misunderstood get an attorney NOW.

I'm not trying to be a fear monger but I want you to see where this can go. You have apparently seriously ticked someone off. The fact that the police were there when you went into get the papers you needed was strange. The fact that they confiscated your camera for evidence, that is very bad. If they are confiscating evidence then there must be a legal accusation that requires evidence. It was your camera so the most likely defendant it that case is you.

Please find an attorney. He or she will know the laws in your state far better than I do. There may be protections afforded to you where you live that are not law where I am.

(edited for spelling)

Last Edited by Zuzu on 11/05/2014 09:58 PM

OP, you haven't been arrested have you?