Date Posted: Friday, December 16th, 2022
Petitioner alleged that three members of New Castle City Council privately discussed and reached a consensus on the tourism director position and that these members regularly used private and public email systems to communicate outside of public meetings and referenced an email in which one councilmember intended to have private discussions with another member.
DECIDED: As the Council provided appropriate sworn testimony, the Petition’s claims allegations did not constitute violations of FOIA.
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Date Posted: Monday, December 12th, 2022
Petitioner alleged that Fort DuPont Redevelopment and Preservation Corporation (“FDRPC”) violated FOIA by not responding to two FOIA requests seeking records relating to financial audits of the FDRPC.
DECIDED: FDRPC violated FOIA by failing to timely respond to two FOIA requests.
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Date Posted: Wednesday, November 30th, 2022
Petitioner alleged that the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (“DNREC”) violated FOIA by relying on the personnel file exemption to withhold an employment settlement agreement and that DNREC’s FOIA coordinator failed to work to foster cooperation between him and DNREC, as required by Section 10003(g).
DECIDED: The claim regarding the settlement agreement is moot, and DNREC’s FOIA coordinator did not violate FOIA by failing to satisfy the duty to cooperate under Section 10003(g).
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Date Posted: Tuesday, November 29th, 2022
Petitioner challenged the University of Delaware’s representation that it has no public records responsive to his request.
DECIDED: The University did not violate FOIA, as it met its burden of proof to demonstrate that it has no public records responsive to this request.
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Date Posted: Monday, November 28th, 2022
Petitioner alleged that the Delaware Department of Transportation (“DelDOT”) imposed unreasonable and unnecessary administrative charges for access to public documents.
DECIDED: DelDOT did not violate FOIA as alleged, because DelDOT met its burden of proof to support its estimated costs to compile the records requested.
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Date Posted: Monday, November 28th, 2022
Petitioner alleged that the Board of Education of the Red Clay Consolidated School District violated FOIA by allowing a member of the Board, who was elected but unsworn at the time, to observe two executive sessions.
DECIDED: The Board did not violate FOIA by permitting this Board member to observe two executive sessions.
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Date Posted: Friday, November 18th, 2022
Petitioner alleged that the City of Wilmington improperly denied his client’s request for body camera footage and city surveillance footage related to a motor vehicle accident in the City.
DECIDED: The City appropriately withheld the requested body camera footage, as it is exempt pursuant to the investigatory files exemption. However, it was determined that the City failed to meet its burden of proof to justify its denial of access to the city surveillance footage.
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Date Posted: Wednesday, November 16th, 2022
Petitioner alleged that the State Employee Benefits Committee of the Delaware Department of Human Resources improperly denied his FOIA request.
DECIDED: The Committee violated FOIA by denying access to the September 19, 2022 public meeting recording.
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Date Posted: Monday, November 14th, 2022
Petitioners alleged that the Dover City Council violated FOIA by voting to discuss a certain item involving special event overtime, vacation and city vehicle usage in a future executive session and the Council did not provide enough information about the item in its meeting packet or by outlining the item during or before the meeting.
DECIDED: The Council may commit a violation of FOIA by discussing all matters contained in this item in executive session, but it was determined that there is no evidence that this alleged violation has occurred to date. In addition, the Council did not violate FOIA by failing to provide information about this item in its meeting packet or a detailed outline about this item before or during the meeting.
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Date Posted: Wednesday, October 19th, 2022
Petitioner alleged that the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (“DSHS”) failed to respond to a FOIA request.
DECIDED: The DSHS violated FOIA by not responding to a request in accordance with the FOIA statute.
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