The Covington Professional Firefighters, I.A.F.F. Local 38 has filed an appeal with state Attorney General’s office, saying the City of Covington has failed to comply with Kentucky’s Open Records Law.
The firefighters have posted a press release on its Facebook page.
I.A.F.F. Local 38 filed an Open Records Request on September 16, requesting email records between public officials of the City of Covington during August and September of 2016.
After initially responding within the legal 3-day time period, and requesting more time to produce the records, the firefighters say the City responded it would be February 10, 2017 before the emails could be produced. Even after Local 38 updated its Open Records Request to significantly reduce the number of requested emails, the city has not complied after more than 5 weeks.
Mike Lee
The City of Covington provided a litany of excuses that do not explain their failure to comply, says the complaint.
An I.A.F.F. Local 38 spokesperson said they worked diligently to help facilitate the production of at least a portion of the requested records by updating the request multiple times via email and phone communication with the City.
The City has still failed to produce the records requested, the complaint says.
The Letter of Appeal to the Attorney General states: “The non-production of Local 38’s open records violates KRS 61.870-KRS 61.884. The process used by the city unduly delays production of said records, thus frustrating public policy, and the public trust in open and transparent government.”
“The City’s failure to comply with this request is unacceptable. This administration claims to value open, transparent government but yet fails to follow one of the most important parts of Kentucky’s transparency laws,” said Mike Lee, President of I.A.F.F. Local 38.
“Local 38 should not have to file an appeal to the Attorney General to compel the City to live up to its obligations. The excuses are pitiful and barely pass the smell test. This is simply a delay tactic by the City,” said Lee.
