How to Handle Voluminous Records Requests

At times, record requests submitted to cities and towns under RSA 91-A, New Hampshire’s Right-to-Know law, involve hundreds, sometimes thousands of records, or pages of records. There is no question that there are costs – time, effort, money – associated with complying with these, at times, burdensome governmental records requests. The Legislature, however, has decided that the benefits of open government outweigh any inconveniences posed by the Right-to-Know law.

Join Auburn Town Administrator Bill Herman and NHMA’s Legal Services Council Stephen C. Buckley who will share strategies to assist municipalities in processing voluminous records requests. Handling voluminous requests requires a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of request processing, including: the requirements for availability, storage, electronic records, redaction, cost estimates, appointments and other statutory obligations. While not all these suggestions can be applied in the context of every voluminous request, they are intended to provide some strategies that may be of assistance in varying circumstances.

This webinar is open to NHMA members and is of interest to all municipal officials and employees.