Somebody call a copyright lawyer, ‘cause we invented a game!
It’s called the “FOI Game” and … OK, we have to work on the title. But the rules are carved in state law!
FOI stands for “Freedom of Information,” so, in honor of Sunshine Week, we invited Thomas Hennick onto “Navel Gazing,” our weekly talk show, to play.
Hennick is the public education officer for the state’s Freedom of Information Commission, and his interview begins at the 30-minute mark in the player above.
We ran a bunch of real life FOI scenarios by him to see if they passed the Hennick-FOI “smell test.”
Some of the questions:
I have a meeting agenda, which lists discussion topics for the meeting. No. 6 reads “executive session if needed.” Does that sound appropriate under the FOI Act?
I’m on a tax board. During budget talks, we talk about cutting $30,000 out of the animal control budget. I want to talk about the matter in executive session, because the $30,000 is the salary we spend on the animal control officer.
This week’s episode began with an interview with Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti recorded on Friday.
Among the topics discussed with Cassetti:
— The departure of William Nimons as the city’s comptroller;
— What’s the status of the city budget;
— A back-and-forth he had with an Alderman last week over a $5,000 raise he gave to a land use official;
— The latest on a number of old industrial properties the city is trying to help redevelop.
