Brightbill: Town could release résumés and financial disclosure forms MELISSA L. GAFFNEY, Staff Writer,The Courier, Oct. 16 Posted:10/17/08
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During the workshop session on Monday, Oct. 2, Middletown Deputy Mayor Pamela Brightbill raised an issue regarding résumés.
Brightbill said she would like residents to be made aware their résumés, once submitted to the Middletown Talent Bank, could be released if requested by the public, according to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA).
Additionally, the deputy mayor said financial disclosure forms also fall under the category of public records, and are thus releasable documents.
“I never really realized what kind of information is an open public record, and that anyone could walk in and get that information,” Brightbill said.
The deputy mayor said she feels the township owes subsequent notification to those residents who would like to volunteer. “Before they give us any information – even a résumé – we let them know that if they send that résumé in, anyone could come in and get a copy of it and do whatever they want with it,” Brightbill said.
The deputy mayor said she was not making a comment whether or not this practice is right or wrong. “I think that we owe it to the residents who are putting themselves out there to volunteer,” Brightbill said. “Then they find they have to fill out this form, never imagining it could wind up in the paper.”
Township Attorney Bernard Reilly said financial disclosure forms must be kept on file, as they are, in fact, public records.
The deputy mayor proposed the township first ask for a letter of interest from any resident applying to the Talent Bank, and then reach out and ask for a résumé.
Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante said it does become a logistical problem when that much material is sent to the township.
“It could be that if people submit an application or letter of interest with their résumé, we could return their résumé to them so it’s not kept on file,” Mercantante suggested. “Maybe someone doesn’t want their résumé out into the general public. Again, it’s a lot of work.”
Township Clerk Heidi Abs pointed out only those residents’ résumés and records that are appointed are kept on file. “It’s not the ones who applied,” she explained. “It’s the one who is ultimately appointed.”
Mercantante also said the township could ask for a résumé and then return it before the appointment is made.
Brightbill said there could be a “huge disclaimer” in a letter sent to residents. “Maybe people don’t care,” she said. “I think people would want to know. They can just make the decision themselves.”
While the deputy mayor said she did not necessarily want to put more work on anyone, she spoke fervently about the issue. “I feel strongly that it’s something we really need to look into before we ask people to send information in,” Brightbill said.
Abs said she was going to suggest sending out a letter. “Once we receive it (a résumé), send a letter letting them (the resident) know it’s on file and a public record,” she said.
Reilly said the township would probably have to send out a letter, and that it was a good idea.
Abs said a notice would soon be published asking for applications to the Middletown Talent Bank.
