Featured Article

Many new state laws go into effect starting October 1. One law requiring municipalities to be more transparent in their record-keeping

Under the ethics reform package passed by the General Assembly was a requirement that all public agencies post their minutes and agendas on the Internet. This information would need to be posted within seven days after the meeting. The change is worrying some towns who say they don't have the staff or resources to comply with the law.

Legislative Advisor at the state Freedom of Information Commission, Hank Pawlowski says they held a workshop to explain the new requirements after FOI staff members fielded more than 2 dozen calls from towns about the law.  He says town officials are worried about facing fines immediately if they have trouble complying

"We are telling folks to make the best efforts to try and comply that If they are subject to the case here at the commission, to just document what they are doing to try to bring their technology up to date...to try and comply."

First Selectman of the town of Lyme,  Ralph Eno says the new law is just another unfunded mandate from the state.

"I suspect it would be a significant burden for any small town. Obviously, most of us don't have I.T. staff for this kind of thing...so there would be an expense there...and then, if for whatever reason..you'd have an FOI stumble, you have double jeopardy of having to defend yourself...and that is a cost in terms of hearings and lawyers ."

Eno says Lyme's website has been down for about a month so it could be updated..but now the Board of Selectman voted to keep it off-line until the Legislature revisits the requirement.

State Representative Chris Caruso is Chair of the committee that helped create the ethics reform bill.

Caruso says he doesn't see the law as onerous and he adds..if towns purposefully violate the law, they risk being sued.