Purpose

To provide procedures and fees for requesting, inspecting and obtaining copies of public records maintained by the Reading Area Water Authority pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. §66.1 et al. This policy replaces all prior inconsistent Authority policies.


Requests

1.   All requests for public records must be in writing and signed by the requester. The request should identify or describe the records sought with sufficient specificity to enable the Authority to ascertain which records are being requested; from which Department the request is being made; and the name and address to which the Authority should address its response. The Authority will not accept anonymous requests for records.

2.   The request should specify the type of access sought by the requester. When no specific type of access is requested, the request will be deemed a request for a paper copy of the identified document(s) that will be sent to the requester by first class U.S. mail.

3.   The requester should also provide additional contact information such as a telephone number, facsimile number and e-mail address to facilitate the processing of a request.

4.   A request may be submitted using the Authority’s “Right-to-Know Law Request Form.” Forms are available for pickup at the Authority Office at the address below. 

5.   Written requests for records may be sent to the Authority by mail or via facsimile to 610-655-6379, or they may be delivered in person during the Authority’s regular business hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Delivery “in person” includes delivery by the requester, courier, messenger, parcel delivery service, or other similar service.
To expedite processing, the written request shall state explicitly – both on the enclosure envelope or fax cover sheet and in the written request – that the communication is made for the purpose of requesting access to public records under the Law.

6.   All requests for records shall be mailed or delivered to:
Authority Executive Director
Reading Area Water Authority
815 Washington Street
Reading, PA 19601

Submittal of a request to any other address or facsimile number does not give rise to any obligation on the part of the Authority to respond to it, nor can it serve as a basis for the deemed denial of the request.

7.   The Right-to-Know Law official, who is the Authority Executive Director, has the authority to grant and deny physical access to a public record and the discretion to impose reasonable restrictions on the time, place and nature of access.

Fees

If a written request for records is granted in whole or in part, the following fees will be charged to the requester:

A “photocopy” is either a single-sided copy or one side of a double-sided copy of a standard 8.5” x 11” page. The Authority may require a requester to prepay an estimate of the fees listed above if the fees required to fulfill the request are expected to exceed $50, including prepayment of delinquent fees from a prior request. All costs must be paid by check or money order payable to the “Reading Area Water Authority.”

Exceptions

1.   A requester whose request has been denied in whole or in part may file exceptions with the Authority’s Chairman. Exceptions must be filed within 15 business days of the mailing date of the written denial or 15 calendar days of a deemed denial.

2.   All exceptions must be in writing and signed by the requester. The exceptions shall specifically state grounds why the records sought are public and shall address the reasons stated by the Authority for denying the request. The Authority will not accept anonymous filings of exceptions.

3.   Exceptions shall be filed with the Authority Executive Director by mail or via facsimile to 610-655-6379, or they may be delivered in person during the Authority’s regular business hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.  Delivery “in person” includes delivery by the requester, courier, messenger, parcel delivery service, or other similar service.

4.   All exceptions shall be mailed or delivered to:
Authority Chairman
Reading Area Water Authority
815 Washington Street
Reading, PA 19601

5.   Submittal of exceptions to any other official, office or address is defective and does not stop the running of the 15-day exceptions period.

6.   Hearings on exceptions will be granted only if the requester agrees in writing to waive the 30-day time period during which the Manger must make his final determination.

Questions:

Any additional questions regarding this policy may be directed to the Authority Solicitor, Michael A. Setley, at 610-898-9500.

Prior to requesting copies of information from the RAWA you may contact via telephone or visit the RAWA Administration Office to obtain a request form, or you can print out the attached request form.  Upon return please have the attached request form completed and either drop off or mail the form to 815 Washington Street Room 121, Reading PA 19601 and/or fax the completed request form to 610-655-6379.  Once received the request will be date and time stamped.

If you have any questions regarding the Right to Know Law you can contact the RAWA Administration Office at 610-655-6251 or visit the attached link to the Open Records Office in Harrisburg, PA.

Right-To-Know Law Request Form (Adobe PDF)

http://openrecords.state.pa.us/