Office of the Town Clerk

Highlights of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

(Be Sure to Consult Statutes)

PUBLIC AGENCIES

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBTAIN RECORDS AND ATTEND MEETINGS OF ALL PUBLIC AGENCIES WITH CERTAIN LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.

This applies to

• State and local government agencies, departments, institutions, boards, commissions and authorities and their committees.
• Executive, administrative or legislative offices, and the judicial branch and the Division of Criminal Justice with respect to their administrative functions.
• Certain other entities based on the following criteria: (1) whether the entity performs a governmental function; (2) the level of government funding; (3) the extent of government involvement or regulation; and (4) whether the entity was created by the government.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

I. MEETINGS, INCLUDING HEARINGS AND OTHER PROCEEDINGS, MUST BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - EXCEPT IN LIMITED SITUATIONS.

A public meeting is any hearing or other proceeding of a public agency, or gathering of, or communication by or to a quorum of a multi-member agency, to discuss or act on any matter over which it has authority.

The following are not public meetings: meetings of certain personnel search committees; collective bargaining strategy and negotiating sessions; caucuses; chance or social gatherings not intended to relate to official business;
administrative or staff meetings of a single-member agency (e.g., mayor); and communications limited to notice of agency meetings or their agendas. 

No registration or other requirements may be imposed on a member of the public seeking attendance at a public meeting.

The public, as well as the news media, may photograph, record or broadcast meetings, subject to prior reasonable rules regarding non-interference with the conduct of the meeting.

II. ONLY THREE KINDS OF MEETINGS ARE RECOGNIZED UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT: REGULAR, SPECIAL AND EMERGENCY.

A state agency must file each year a schedule of its regular meetings with the Secretary of the State. A town or city agency must file each year a schedule of its regular meetings with the clerk of the town or city. A multi-town district
or agency must file each year a schedule of its regular meetings with the clerk of each municipal member of the district or agency. A special meeting may be called up to 24 hours (excluding weekends, holidays, and days on which the office of the Secretary of the State or municipal clerk, as the case may be, is closed) before the time set for the meeting. A special meeting is called by filing a notice stating the time, place and business to be transacted.
A state agency files this notice with the Secretary of the State; a local agency files this notice with the municipal clerk; a multi-town district or agency files this notice with the clerk of each municipal member of the district or
agency.

An emergency meeting may be held without com- plying with the preceding notice requirements. How- ever, the agency must file its minutes, including the reason for the emergency, within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) of the meeting with the Secretary of the State if a state agency; or with the municipal clerk if a local agency; or with the clerk of each municipal member if a multi-town district or agency.

III. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THE NOTICE AND AGENDA OF A MEETING.

An agency is required to send a notice of its meetings, where practicable at least 1 week prior to the meeting date, to any person who has made a written request. The agency may establish a reasonable charge for this service.

Each agency must make available its agenda for each regular meeting at least 24 hours before the meeting to which it refers. New business not on the agenda may be considered and acted on only on a 2/3 vote of the members of the agency.

IV. AGENCY MINUTES AND RECORD OF VOTES MUST BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

The minutes of each agency meeting must be made available to the public within 7days of the session to which they refer in the agency's office if it has one; or, if none, in the office of the Secretary of the State for state agencies or
in the municipal clerk's office for local agencies. In the case of special meetings, the 7 day period excludes weekends and holidays. The minutes must contain the record of each member's vote on any issue before the agency.
The votes of each member on any issue must be put in writing and made available to the public within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, of the meeting at which the votes were taken.

The minutes of a meeting at which an executive session occurs must indicate all persons who were in attendance at the closed session, except for job applicants who were interviewed.

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

AN AGENCY MAY CLOSE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF ITS MEETINGS BY A VOTE OF 2/3 OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT AND VOTING. THIS VOTE MUST BE CONDUCTED AT A PUBLIC SESSION.

Meetings to discuss the following matters may be closed: specific employees (unless the employee concerned requests that the discussions be open to the public); strategy and negotiations regarding pending claims and litigation; security matters; real estate acquisition (if openness might increase price); or any matter that would result in the disclosure of a public record exempted from the disclosure requirements for public records.

Any business or discussion in a closed session must be limited to the above areas.

The agency may invite persons to present testimony or opinion in the executive session, but their attendance must be limited to only the time necessary for that testimony or opinion.

PUBLIC RECORDS

I.  MOST RECORDS OR FILES OF STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING MINUTES OF ALL THEIR MEETINGS, ARE AVAILABLE TO  THE PUBLIC FOR INSPECTION OR COPYING.

This includes

• Information or data which is typed, handwritten, tape recorded, printed, photographed or computer-stored.
• Most inter-agency and intra-agency memoranda or letters.
  

II. RECORDS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPTED FROM DISCLOSURE BY FEDERAL LAW OR STATE STATUTE ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO THE  PUBLIC.

In addition, the following records may not be available to the public: some preliminary drafts or notes; personnel or medical files; certain law enforcement records, including arrest records of juveniles and some witness and victim
identification information; records relating to pending claims and litigation; trade secrets and certain commercial or financial information; test questions used to administer licensing, employment or academic examinations; real estate
appraisals and construction contracts until all of the property has been acquired; personal financial data required by a licensing agency; records relating to collective bargaining; tax returns and communications privileged by
the attorney-client relationship; names and addresses of public school students; information obtained by illegal means; certain investigation records of reported misconduct in state government or names of state employees who report such misconduct to the state Attorney General or Auditors; certain adoption records; election, primary, referenda and town meeting petition pages, until certified; certain health authority complaints and records; certain educational records; certain records, when there are reasonable grounds to believe disclosure may result in a safety risk; and certain records, if disclosure would compromise the security or integrity of an information technology system. Also, records of personnel search committees need not be disclosed if they would identify executive level employment candidates without their consent.

III. YOU MAY INSPECT PUBLIC RECORDS DURING REGULAR OFFICE HOURS, BUT COPIES, PRINT- OUTS OR TRANSCRIPTS SHOULD BE  REQUESTED IN WRITING.

The fee for a copy of a public record from a state agency must not exceed 25¢ per page. The fee for a copy of a public record from a non-state agency must not exceed 50¢ per page. The fee for a computer disk, tape, printout or for a transcript, or a copy thereof, must not exceed the actual cost to the agency involved. The agency may also require the prepayment of these fees if their estimated cost is $10.00 or more. No sales tax may be imposed for copies of the public records requested under this Act. 

The agency is required to waive any fee for copies if the person requesting the copies is poor and cannot afford it; or if the agency determines that the request benefits the public welfare.

There is an additional charge for a certified copy of a public record.

You are entitled to prompt access to inspect or copy public records. If an
agency fails to respond to a request within four business days, such failure can
be treated as a denial of the request.

THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION

I. YOU MAY APPEAL THE DENIAL OF ANY RIGHT CONFERRED BY THIS ACT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION.

You do not have to hire a lawyer to appeal to the Commission.
You must, however, appeal to the Commission within 30 days of the denial of any
right conferred by this Act.

II. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, INCLUDING HOW TO  APPEAL, CONTACT:

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION
18-20 TRINITY STREET
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106
TELEPHONE: (860) 566-5682  TOLL-FREE (CT ONLY): (866) 374-3617
EMAIL: FOI@PO.STATE.CT.US
http://www.state.ct.us/foi/

Appt or Elected

# of Members

Term Length

How Vacancy Filled

Vacancy Filled To

Board of Assessment Appeals

E

3

4 years

Selectmen

Next Town Election

Conservation Commission

A

11

5 years

First Selectman

Unexpired portion of term

   Alternates

A

3

5 years

First Selectman

Unexpired portion of term

Camp Nahaco Park Commission

A

8

2 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

  Alternates

A

2

2 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

Economic Development Commission

E

5

5 years

First Selectman

Unexpired portion of term

Education, Board of

E

9

6 years

MVRM**

Next Town Election

Finance, Board of

E

6

6 years

MVRM

Next Town Election

 Alternates

E

3

6 years

MVRM

Next Town Election

Historic District Commission

A

5

5 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

   Alternates

A

3

5 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

Historic Properties Commission

A

5

5 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

   Alternates

A

3

5 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

Housing Authority

A

5

5 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

Inland Wetlands Commission

A

7

5 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

   Alternates

A

3

3 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

Justices of the Peace

A

18

5 years

Political Party

Unexpired portion of term

Open Space Land Acquisition & Preservation Commission

A

11

No set term

Selectmen

Serve at the pleasure of the Board of Selectmen

Planning & Zoning Commission

E

9

4 years

MVRM

Unexpired portion of term

 Alternates

E

3

4 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

Recreation Committee

A

9

2 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

Selectmen, Board of

E

3

2 years

MVRM

Unexpired portion of term

Water Pollution Control Authority

A

5

5 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

Zoning Board of Appeals

A

5

4 years

MVRM

Unexpired portion of term

 Alternates

A

3

4 years

Selectmen

Unexpired portion of term

TOWN OF WOODSTOCK TRANSFER STATION

Recycling Information, Transfer Station
860.928.2770

See Location, Hours, Permits, Mandatory Recyclables, Other Items, Hazardous Waste Information, Materials Fee Schedule, Bulky Waste definition, Layout, Committee, Brochure (PDF)

Location: Paine District Road.  Please note that the Transfer Station is open to Woodstock Residents ONLY.  (Permit required for entry.)

Hours:  Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Permits:  Annual permit for 2009 is $130; seniors (65 and older) $70. Please contact the Town Clerk for additional permit information. Proof of vehicle registration is required. Permits must be affixed to the vehicle's front windshield. No entry allowed without a permit.  A Transfer Station permit or a $10 day permit is required in addition to Material Fees.

Permits can be obtained at the Town Clerk's Office at the Woodstock Town Hall.
M, T, Th 8:30 - 4:30
W 8:30 - 6:00
F 8:30 - 3:00

Mandatory Recyclables  

• Automobile / Truck / Marine Batteries & Rechargeable Batteries: Make sure that battery cases are not leaking. Household (alkaline-flashlight) type batteries can be discarded with your normal household trash.
• Beverage Containers (glass, aluminum, plastic) with a 5¢ deposit are stored for non-profits.
• Brush (not bigger than 3” diameter): In the designated area—including Christmas Trees
• Cardboard: Brown corrugated boxes, shoe boxes, beverage cartons, paper towel and toilet paper rolls and clean (no liners) food boxes. Please flatten (No pizza boxes)
• Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Recycle in designated containers.
• Glass Food Containers: Separate glass bottles by color. Brown and Green are recycled together. Tinted glass (wine bottles and blue bottles) goes with the Green and Brown glass. No windowpane glass or mirrors.
• Leaves (no grass clippings): In the designated area
  
• Newspaper / Magazines / Junk Mail: Newspapers, real estate flyers, magazines, telephone books, catalogs, colored paper, white office paper, computer printouts, all envelopes, paper bags, paper back books, hard covers books. Tie into bundles, or place in a brown grocery bag for easy handling. No plastic bags.
• Paper Milk & Juice Cartons: Rinse well and flatten.
• Plastics Containers: separate by type of plastic:
  • #2 [ Milk Jugs, Colored Plastics] and
  • # 1 [Soda and Juice Bottles].
  • Plastic motor oil bottles are not recycled.
  • Look for the recycling code on the bottom of the bottle. Please remove caps. Plastic Codes other than # 1 or #2 are not recycled.
  • NO motor oil containers, 5-gallon buckets, Plastic #3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, plastic bags or plastic toys
• Scrap Appliances: "WHITE GOODS" such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers, containing Freon (CFCs) will be assessed $10 to cover the removal of the Freon. These appliances are staged next to the attendants building.
• Scrap Metal: Separate and dispose of in the designated dumpster.
• Tin Cans & Metal Food Containers: Rinse cans well, lids may be left attached. Metal caps and aerosol cans are OK.
• TVs, Computer Monitors & CPUs: Recycle in the designated storage trailer ($6 fee).
• Used Motor Oil & Antifreeze: Please leave your containers or ask attendant for help. No gasoline or paint-related products.

Other Items

• Swap Shed: Usable items ONLY. NO computers or televisions. Please, nothing broken or unusable; no clothing/
• Used Clothing: There is a drop-off box designated for clothing. Placing your unwanted clothing in plastic bags; please tie pairs of shoes together. Do not leave clothing outside the clothing boxes.

HAZARDOUS WASTE INFORMATION
Household Hazardous Waste is not accepted at the Transfer Station. The Town participates in hazardous waste collection days, watch for advertising in the local paper. Please store the material safely until the collection day is held.

MATERIALS FEE SCHEDULE
Fees for materials must be paid at the Town Clerk’s Office prior to disposal. Punch cards available at the Town Clerk’s Office ($35) - can be used for any Transfer station fees. Fees for Bulky Waste and Special Permits can now be paid by CHECK (absolutely no cash) at the Transfer Station.
Please Note: The Transfer Station Attendant will assess incoming loads for determination of applicable fees. This includes pickup truck and trailer loads.

• Bulky waste, construction, demolition debris, carpet, wood, shingles, sheet rock, $40
• Couches, Stuffed chairs, Mattress / Box Springs, $6 per item
• Televisions, computer monitors & CPUs: $6 per item
• Tires:
  • Auto - $2
  • Auto with rim $3
  • Tractor/Truck (R 17 or higher) $6
  • Tractor/Truck with Rim (R17 or higher) $16
  • Earth Moving Tractor $25
• Appliances with Freon (CFC) Refrigerator/ Air Conditioners/ Dehumidifier, etc. $10 per item (doors must be removed).

Bulky Waste is defined to include the following, but not limited to:

• Mattress/Box Spring
• Oversized municipal waste
• Insulation
• Agricultural plastic sheeting
• Large toys (e.g., "big wheels")
• Sleeper-sofas (remove springs)
• Carpet
• Shingles
• Sheet rock
• Couches
• Stuffed Chairs

Please Note: The Transfer Station Attendant will assess incoming loads for determination of applicable fees. This includes pickup truck and trailer loads.