News | Tyrone

New information policy headed to the attorney

Mon, 06/12/2006 - 7:54am
By: John Thompson

Tyrone’s controversial information policy may not pass legal muster.
Last week, the Town Council approved a policy that would only provide information to residents in a hard copy form, and forbid the use of email for answering residents’ questions.
“Email can be manipulated,’ said Town Councilman Paul Letorneau.
The issue was brought before the Town Council after a letter to the editor appeared in The Citizen from a resident who was concerned about not getting information provided from Town Manager Barry Amos.
“I just think we need a set policy,” said Mike Smola.
Smola and Letourneau supported the policy eliminating email as a measure to answer questions, while Councilmen Grace Caldwell and Gloria Furr were opposed to it.
“I don’t have a problem with email,” said Furr.
Mayor Sheryl Lee broke the tie and said the town needed to provide the information in hard copy form at a cost of 25 cents per page.
But this week, Amos said he’s referred the policy to the town’s attorney after learning that it could possibly violate a state law concerning freedom of information.
“If it violates any law, I’ll report back to the Town Council and we’ll modify the policy,” said Amos.

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Lawyers profit from dumb clients
mapleleaf's picture
Submitted by mapleleaf on Tue, 06/13/2006 - 3:39pm.

As I explained in a previous posting to a related blog, the Georgia Open Records Act gives citizens the right to inspect public records. That what “open records” means: the records are open for inspection.

Instead of reading the actual statute, the Tyrone town council decides it will no longer provide information through e-mail but only through hard copies for which it will charge 25 cents per page. In deference to council members who fear this might violate the law, the council will ask its attorney to review this new policy.

Why did the council fail to read the statute? And why did the town manager ask the town attorney to review this new policy?

The answer to the first question is that the council members are too lazy and too stupid to go find the statute and read it. It is probably right next door to them in their public library. In the Index book to the Georgia Code, they can look up “Open Records.” That will give them code section 50-18-70. From that point on it is not hard to find. (It is written in English.)

Why did the town manager ask the town attorney to review its new policy? Because he doesn’t have to pay the lawyer out of his own pocket. The citizens foot the legal bills. When you don’t pay the bill and you’re not too bright, that’s what you do.

Hence, my conclusion that lawyers profit from dumb clients. (The key is not to tell them they’re dumb as mud.)


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You mean like paying lawyers over 500k to lose 5 law suits.
Submitted by Honestly on Tue, 06/13/2006 - 5:00pm.

Are you talking about the kind of dumb clients like Greg Dunn, Linda Wells and Peter Pfeifer when they paid lawyers over a half million dollars to lose 5 law suits. Is that the kind of dumb client your talking about?

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Engineers profit from lazy town manager
Submitted by ttownconcerned on Tue, 06/13/2006 - 4:07pm.

You are right. Its not out of my pocket---- just ship it to the attorney so I don't have to do any work or think. The county does the same thing. In Tyrone's case, they hired Barry Amos because he was allegedly an engineer. Once he gets in earning over $100,000 he subs all the engineering work out and gets the Council to promote Valerie to assistant Town Manager.

If it ain't my money, I don't care--- thats the government attitude.

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