HomeMy WebLinkAboutLarry Tanglen - Laurel OutlookLaurel Outlook
P.O. Box 278,415 East Main Street
Laurel, Montana 59(}44
Phone 406-628-4412
November 19, 2002
Mr. Matt Erekson
Laurel City Attorney
115 West First Su'eet
Laurel, MT 59044
Dear Matt:
After reviewing the text of the City of Laurel Internet and E-mail Policy for
Employees that will be adopted tonight as part of the councils' consent agenda by the
approval of Resolution No. R02-77, I would like to offer a suggestion concerning an
item I believe may have inadvertently not been included.
Reasons are listed for using care in drafting e-mail documents under Part Two:
E-mail Use, Section 1. "Public records are subject to discovery, subpoena and use in
litigation in the same manner as other records of the City," the proposed policy
reads.
Conspicuous by its absence is that public review or inspection of public
documents isn't also cited. The public's right to know is so important that it was
specifically addressed and protected in Article II, Section 9 of the Montana
Constitution.
I urge the council to consider inclusion of the words "public review" or "public
inspection" in the sentence referenced from your E-mail policy document. By state
law, MCA 2-6-101, 2-6-102 and 2-6-110, many e-mail documents will be subject to
inspection by the public.
I believe the public's right to know, should at least carry as much weight in your
policy as the fact that E-mail documents could be used in a lawsuit.
Thank you for your consideration.