Freedom of Information Law

Public Access to Records Policy (FOIL)

• Purpose. The people’s right to know the process of government decision making and the documents and statistics leading to determinations is basic to our society, and access to such information should not be thwarted by clouding it in a cloak of secrecy or confidentiality. Thus, information of the public issues concerning the Town of Watertown Fire District will be available as prescribed in the Freedom of Information Law. 

• Compliance. Upon receiving a request for records, the Records Access Officer will identify records requested, make records available for inspection, or deny access, with proper written reasoning. Upon requests for copies, the Records Access Officer will cause copies to be made, after payment of fees.

• Location of Records. The Town of Watertown Fire District designates the Town of Watertown Fire Station #1 as the official location where records shall be available for public inspection and/or copying. The district does not have regular business hours; thus, records should be available at such times or times as may be convenient to both the Records Access Officer and the person seeking inspection or copies of public records. The current Records Access Officer is District Manager, Fred Sourwine, and can be reached, in writing at, 22825 County Route 67, Watertown, N.Y. 13601, or by phone at 315-788-9101.

• Requests for Records. Requests for records may be written or oral, but generally, requests should be in writing. The Records Access Officer will respond promptly to a request for records within 5 working days after such a request and shall fulfill the request within a reasonable period of time, if appropriate. Any delay in fulfilling the request shall be made in writing with the reasoning for the delay or denial clearly stated as to the reason for the inability to supply the requested records.

• Fees. There shall be no fees for the inspection or viewing of records, and no fee for the search for records. In accordance with the NYS Committee on Public Access to Records, the charge per page for photocopies, not exceeding 9 x 14 inches shall be 25 cents, or the actual cost of photocopying by a professional service.
• Fees. Hourly salary of lowest paid employee capable of preparing a copy-but only if it takes at least 2 hours.