The country denied my request for the latest cell phone bill of the County claiming that I need to pay $87.60 ($80.25 for copies plus $7.35 for postage) for the paper copies of the bill that I asked to scan and send to me by e-mail.
In response, I filed a FOIL request for the inventory of Delaware County's scanning equipment, since the County is required by law to provide scanned copies of paper documents if they have scanners that scan as easily as the documents can be copied, and I am sure the County, with its multi-million-dollar budget (that my husband and I contribute to, as captive cash cows, owners of property in Delaware County) does have such scanners.
It is obvious that Delaware County is playing a game - trying to delay or stall disclosure of any information that can lead to charges of corruption against the County or raising issues of improper use of government equipment.
New York State Comptroller already found that County employees misused county-assigned vehicles - for years.
And, that the county never submitted to public bidding their contracts - for decades.
I only asked for a cell phone bill - that is a public record, without exceptions.
I asked for it in electronic, scanned format.
I asked for it on April 29, 2016, by e-mail.
It had to be provided within 5 business days, also by e-mail.
Today is June 6, 2016, and I only have a demand that I either pay for paper copies (that I do not need) and for postage (that I do not need - I asked for disclosure by e-mail, and the County has no right under FOIL to charge for postage) - or be denied these records.
Ok, I understand the game.
But, inadvertently, while denying me the records, the county still gave me significant information.
The most recent cell phone bill of Delaware County consists of 321 pages (!!).
That is in the county of about 48,000 people, with a per capita income of $22,695 and a median household (not individual) income of $43,000.
A county supported by poor taxpayers has a need to assign cell phones to so many employees that a monthly bill consists of 321 pages?
I recently published e-mails and cell phones of Otsego County employees (information that is still claimed to be for employees only on the Otsego County website).
The number of assigned cell phones begs a question - WHY?
Why so many county employees who have landlines also are assigned cell phones, at taxpayers' expense? So that they can connect with friends and family on the go, watch movies and post on Facebook?
The same question refers to Delaware County - why the County's cell phone bill is 321 pages long?
Can you, Delaware County taxpayers, afford this?
I am filing an administrative appeal now, and will publish a copy of the bill when it is provided to me.
Stay tuned.
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