Open Records

Open Records Policy

Open Records Officer

The township has designated Township Manager Chris Heleniak as the township Open Records Officer. The Open Records Officer may be reached at: the Township Office, 11 General Warren Blvd. Suite 1, Malvern, PA. 19355. Phone – (610) 240-0326, Fax – (610) 240-0328, Email – manager@charlestown.pa.us.

Requests

Public records will be available for inspection and copying at the Township Office, during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with the exception of holidays.

Requests shall be in writing and directed to the Township Manager at the Township Office. Written requests shall be on a form provided by the Township and shall include the date of the request, the name and address of the requester, and a clear description of the records sought. The form is available at the Township office.

Fees

Paper copies will be $0.10 per page per side. If mailing is requested, the cost of postage will be charged. If a disk is requested, it will be provided by the Township at the cost of $5.00 per disk. A new disk will be necessary each time records are provided. Fax copies will be available at the cost of $0.50 per page. If “True and Correct Certification” is requested, an additional charge of $1.00 will be added. Specialized documents including, but not limited to blue prints, color copies, and non-standard sized documents shall be charged the actual cost of production. If mailing is requested, the cost of postage will be charged. The township shall require prepayment if the total fees are estimated to exceed $100.

Response

The Township will make a good faith effort to provide the requested public records as promptly as feasible. Township employees shall cooperate with those requesting to review and/or duplicate original Township documents while taking reasonable measures to protect Township documents from the possibility of theft and/or modification.

The township shall make a good-faith effort to provide the requested public record(s) as promptly as possible. The Open Records Officer shall cooperate with those requesting records to review and/or duplicate original township documents while taking reasonable measure to protect township documents from the possibility of theft, damage, and/or modification.

The Open Records Officer shall review all written requests for access to public records. As soon as possible, but no later than five business days after receiving a written request to access public records, the Open Records Officer shall respond to such requests in writing consistent with Act 3 of 2008, the Right-to-Know Law.

If access to a record is denied, the response shall include a reason for denial as stipulated in Act 3 of 2008, the Right-to-Know Law.

Contact Information for Appeals

If a written request is denied or deemed denied, the requester may file an appeal in writing to Terry Mutchler, Executive Director, Office of Open Records, Commonwealth Keystone Building 400 North Street, Plaza Level Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225.

Fee Schedule for Documents

Name of Document or Service Charge
Zoning Ordinance $30.00
Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance 20.00
Open Space, Recreation and Environmental Resources Plan 20.00
Act 537 Plan – Sewage Facilities 20.00
Comprehensive Plan 50.00
Color Maps 11″ x 17″ 2.00
Copies – per page per side 8½″ x 11″ .10
Copies – per page per side 11″ x 17″ .20
Copies – per page faxed .50
Copies – per disk 5.00
Engineering Sized Drawings Cost of production
Off Site Storage File Retrieval Fee - per box 10.00
Postage or Delivery Fee Actual cost

Please note: Legal Transcripts must be ordered directly from the court reporter. They may be viewed at the Township office but copies cannot be provided.

If total fees are estimated to exceed $100 the Township shall require prepayment.

Updated: December 19, 2022