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Freedom of Information Workshop

Posted on: March 9, 2021 - 9:16am

FOIA Workshop Wednesday, March 10th at 7 pm via Zoom

  Click the link below to join the zoom meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81363277219?pwd=WjM3dWVyS1paZk9TdmhqMlhkOXJTdz09

Meeting ID: 813 6327 7219

Passcode: 386553

Dial by your location

        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act guarantees all citizens the right to have access to public meetings and public documents.

The FOI Commission conducts workshops around the state helping citizens and officials understand their rights and their obligations under the FOI Act. The workshop will feature a review of the basics of the Freedom of Information Act. Some of the topics that are explored include:

  1. The definitions of public records and meetings.
  2. How to manage requests for public records.
  3. What are the rules governing executive sessions?
  4. Does the public have access to all meetings and documents?
  5. Are e-mails and other electronic documents available to the public?
  6. Does the public have a right to speak at public meetings?
  7. Can an agency talk about business not listed on its meeting agenda?
  8. Can requesters take pictures of public records?
  9. Can FOI requests be rejected because they are burdensome?
  10. What is the process for filing a complaint with the FOIC?

The workshop will be conducted by Tom Hennick. Mr. Hennick is the Public Education Officer at the Freedom of Information Commission. In that role, he travels around the state, conducting FOI seminars and workshops, educating members of the public as well as public officials about their rights and duties under the Act. He also spends a great deal of time on the telephone answering questions about the Act raised by the general public. This workshop is open to all board, commission, and committee members, as well as the general public. The recording of the FOI workshop can be found here.