public comment – National Freedom of Information Coalition

TCOG encourages citizens to comment on draft model public records policy

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The Office of Open Records Counsel is giving the public a chance to review and comment on a draft of a statewide model public records policy.

A new law requires all government entities in Tennessee to adopt a public records policy by July 1, 2017. [T.C.A. §10-7-503 (g)]. The law also requires the Office of Open Records Counsel, a state agency housed in the State Comptroller’s Office, to develop a model best practices and public records policy that can be used by the government entities.

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DEP’s New Public Comment Policy Enhances Public Participation, Transparency

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The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced improvements for public participation and transparency through a new online engagement system. DEP's new online eComment system allows the public to more easily access Technical Guidance Documents and other policy-related proposals open for comment. The public can also view all support documentation, submit comments online, and view the full text of all public comments submitted.

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Public officials can submit anonymous comments on RiverPort

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The identity of a public official who submitted a public comment letter to the Charleston District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been concealed from public view, because otherwise it 'would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.'

That's according to the federal agency, which released a handful of documents in response to a Freedom of Information Act request for materials generated from the public meeting on Hardeeville's RiverPort development.

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Our View: Columbus (MS) city council strikes another blow against open government

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Some concepts are just hard to grasp. Other ideas are easier to absorb. Or at least, they should be. It is apparent after Tuesday's city council meeting our elected leaders struggle to understand a fundamental aspect of the democratic process — the idea of open government.

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