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Riverton Village Board appoints new FOIA officer
By Byron Painter
Editor
To account for tougher restrictions on the state’s Freedom of Information Act laws, the Riverton Village Board on Monday night appointed clerk Tiffany McCullough to be the
chief compliance officer.
Village Attorney John Myers will be the backup, with Police Chief Dave Smith the third in line.
The board unanimously passed (4-0, Raycraft absent, Black’s position not filled) an ordinance amending the village code “pertaining to public records and the Freedom of
Information Act” and also appointed McCullough to that position by the same 4-0 vote.
But the first item of business on the agenda was hearing from Jeff Berkler of the county sheriff’s department and the county’s Tactical Response Unit. A commander of the unit
for 21 years, Berkler noted that it has historically been a multiagency unit.
A current Riverton police officer, Eric Mills, has applied to join the unit, and Berkler came before the board to answer questions.Berkler said the unit tries to recruit from outside
agencies because those individuals could then bring their training back to their respective departments, “outstanding training” that will help the individual agency.
The unit currently has one member from Rochester and two from Chatham.
Trustees asked about liability and workmen’s compensation issues (who would liable if Mills, if approved, would get hurt, for example).
Mayor Bob Todd told Berkler that the village would need to discuss with the union (under the collective bargaining agreement) before anything could be approved.
Berkler said there was only one case of workmen’s compensation during his time, and that was for an off-duty occurrence.
Mills already has passed the physical agility test and the shooting proficiency test, and “we would like him to be part of the team,” said Berkler.
Trustee Jack Rader asked a question about Mills’ priorities; if he was working for the village at the time and got a call, would Mills need to leave, and Berkler replied “absolutely
not,” he would stay on duty with the village.
Office manager Linda Viola asked about salary, which Berkler noted would have to be discussed with the union.
Trustees will also check with Brad Schaive, director of the Emergency Response Coalition.
There will be more discussion on this at the next meeting.
Then it was to the FOIA changes; the new ordinance, a new Chapter 40 of the village code, will completely replace the old version.
The state legislature passed a tougher FOIA law that took effect earlier this month.
The ordinance “attempts to implement the new FOIA law and put it in ordinance format,” said Myers. “It is intended to be a guide (so employees) do not have to look any further
than the ordinance.”
Among the new requirements are a shorter response time and the establishment of a Public Access Officer within the Attorney General’s office.
Response times for police department records are also shorter, noted Myers.
“All village officers and employees who receive a FOIA request from any source whatsoever shall notify the FOIA Officer within one (1) working day,” the ordinance reads. If the
officer, in this case McCullough, is not available, Myers as village attorney is then notified.
There are training requirements for McCullough to meet, which are not actually posted yet online.
Superintendent Chuck Stone’s report was short; there was a water main break on Jefferson between 4th and 5th Monday, but it was rectified quickly, and Cissell Mueller, the
company developing the proposed new Dollar General site, does not think this is a viable project with the proposed fencing layout. Stone has given Todd contact information for
the Cissell Mueller representative.
Police Chief Dave Smith noted during his report that part-time officer Shawn Barber has resigned; he has a new position with the Air Force that will not allow him as much time
available to work with the village. His resignation is effective immediately; there are no immediate plans to replace him.
He also reported that a suspect has been apprehended in a car burglary locally; a witness notified police of an act of burglary occurring, and within 15 minutes the suspect, a
juvenile just short of his 18th birthday, was apprehended (after briefly fleeing the police). Smith believes that this individual is involved in a string of burglaries that occurred
before Christmas as well (“it is a good possibility”), though he is not sure. This juvenile, not a resident of Riverton, was arrested in May for the same offenses.
Smith read a letter of thanks from a victim of the burglary; her property was returned promptly, and she said she was proud to live in Riverton.
There was a short discussion during Rader’s Utilities Committee report about a conference in Effingham for water department employees; Todd asked Rader to come back
with cost estimates before the board will approve funding, though Stone noted that employees attend this conference every year.
Trustee Joe Bartley in his Streets Committee report mentioned a discussion with the engineer about the 3rd Street overlay project; there are some questions the engineer
wants answered before the bidding process begins. There will be a Streets Committee meeting scheduled, but Bartley said the engineer wants to have the meeting soon.
Bartley mentioned for Raycraft for the Parks Committee that they would like to start to lay footing for the concession stand at the Field of Dreams for concrete and insulation and
other supplies, so when the weather breaks, the project can begin.
The board approved up to $5000 (4-0 vote) to purchase those supplies.
The board then went into closed session for about 45 minutes, and after the board returned, no votes were taken and the meeting was adjourned.
By Byron Painter
Editor
To account for tougher restrictions on the state’s Freedom of Information Act laws, the Riverton Village Board on Monday night appointed clerk Tiffany McCullough to be the
chief compliance officer.
Village Attorney John Myers will be the backup, with Police Chief Dave Smith the third in line.
The board unanimously passed (4-0, Raycraft absent, Black’s position not filled) an ordinance amending the village code “pertaining to public records and the Freedom of
Information Act” and also appointed McCullough to that position by the same 4-0 vote.
But the first item of business on the agenda was hearing from Jeff Berkler of the county sheriff’s department and the county’s Tactical Response Unit. A commander of the unit
for 21 years, Berkler noted that it has historically been a multiagency unit.
A current Riverton police officer, Eric Mills, has applied to join the unit, and Berkler came before the board to answer questions.Berkler said the unit tries to recruit from outside
agencies because those individuals could then bring their training back to their respective departments, “outstanding training” that will help the individual agency.
The unit currently has one member from Rochester and two from Chatham.
Trustees asked about liability and workmen’s compensation issues (who would liable if Mills, if approved, would get hurt, for example).
Mayor Bob Todd told Berkler that the village would need to discuss with the union (under the collective bargaining agreement) before anything could be approved.
Berkler said there was only one case of workmen’s compensation during his time, and that was for an off-duty occurrence.
Mills already has passed the physical agility test and the shooting proficiency test, and “we would like him to be part of the team,” said Berkler.
Trustee Jack Rader asked a question about Mills’ priorities; if he was working for the village at the time and got a call, would Mills need to leave, and Berkler replied “absolutely
not,” he would stay on duty with the village.
Office manager Linda Viola asked about salary, which Berkler noted would have to be discussed with the union.
Trustees will also check with Brad Schaive, director of the Emergency Response Coalition.
There will be more discussion on this at the next meeting.
Then it was to the FOIA changes; the new ordinance, a new Chapter 40 of the village code, will completely replace the old version.
The state legislature passed a tougher FOIA law that took effect earlier this month.
The ordinance “attempts to implement the new FOIA law and put it in ordinance format,” said Myers. “It is intended to be a guide (so employees) do not have to look any further
than the ordinance.”
Among the new requirements are a shorter response time and the establishment of a Public Access Officer within the Attorney General’s office.
Response times for police department records are also shorter, noted Myers.
“All village officers and employees who receive a FOIA request from any source whatsoever shall notify the FOIA Officer within one (1) working day,” the ordinance reads. If the
officer, in this case McCullough, is not available, Myers as village attorney is then notified.
There are training requirements for McCullough to meet, which are not actually posted yet online.
Superintendent Chuck Stone’s report was short; there was a water main break on Jefferson between 4th and 5th Monday, but it was rectified quickly, and Cissell Mueller, the
company developing the proposed new Dollar General site, does not think this is a viable project with the proposed fencing layout. Stone has given Todd contact information for
the Cissell Mueller representative.
Police Chief Dave Smith noted during his report that part-time officer Shawn Barber has resigned; he has a new position with the Air Force that will not allow him as much time
available to work with the village. His resignation is effective immediately; there are no immediate plans to replace him.
He also reported that a suspect has been apprehended in a car burglary locally; a witness notified police of an act of burglary occurring, and within 15 minutes the suspect, a
juvenile just short of his 18th birthday, was apprehended (after briefly fleeing the police). Smith believes that this individual is involved in a string of burglaries that occurred
before Christmas as well (“it is a good possibility”), though he is not sure. This juvenile, not a resident of Riverton, was arrested in May for the same offenses.
Smith read a letter of thanks from a victim of the burglary; her property was returned promptly, and she said she was proud to live in Riverton.
There was a short discussion during Rader’s Utilities Committee report about a conference in Effingham for water department employees; Todd asked Rader to come back
with cost estimates before the board will approve funding, though Stone noted that employees attend this conference every year.
Trustee Joe Bartley in his Streets Committee report mentioned a discussion with the engineer about the 3rd Street overlay project; there are some questions the engineer
wants answered before the bidding process begins. There will be a Streets Committee meeting scheduled, but Bartley said the engineer wants to have the meeting soon.
Bartley mentioned for Raycraft for the Parks Committee that they would like to start to lay footing for the concession stand at the Field of Dreams for concrete and insulation and
other supplies, so when the weather breaks, the project can begin.
The board approved up to $5000 (4-0 vote) to purchase those supplies.
The board then went into closed session for about 45 minutes, and after the board returned, no votes were taken and the meeting was adjourned.
Issue Date: Jan. 7, 2010
