Philadelphia aldermen adopt new public records policy

A new Public Records Policy for the city of Philadelphia has been approved by aldermen, which should make obtaining records an easier process for both the city and citizens, officials said.

This new policy aligns with the state law allowing public records to be accessible for inspection and copying during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Individuals seeking to inspect or copy public records of the city of Philadelphia should submit a written request using the city request form, or via letter, fax, or email addressed to the Philadelphia City Clerk. 

The request should include the requester's name, address, contact information, identification of the public records, and the preferred date and time for the request.

If the requester prefers copies instead of inspection, they should specify and arrange payment or a deposit for copies at a rate of $0.50 cents per page for standard photocopies. The cost of searching, reviewing, and redacting exempt information will be based on the hourly rate of the lowest-paid city employee qualified for the task, according to state law.

Requests will be processed in the order that allows the most efficient handling within seven business days, and requesters must claim or review the assembled records within 30 days of notification that the records are available.

The process for requesting electronic public records is the same as for requesting paper records, and a request form is also available at the public records officer's office and online at philadelphiathecity.com, officials said.

“This will help everybody and make the process a lot easier,” said City Attorney Robert Lee Thomas.

For those requesting access to public records or needing assistance with requests, contact the City Clerk of The City of Philadelphia.

In other matters, aldermen voted to:

• Approve a motion to amend the ordinance for medical cannabis to allow for Sunday sales. The vote was as follows: Justin Clearman, aye; Shaun Seales, aye; James Tatum, aye; James Waltman, nay; and Jim Fulton, nay. The motion passed;

• Approve a motion to pay Allen & Hoshall invoice totaling $420 for engineering services completed on the Booker T Washington ADA Improvements, CDBG project. The motion was approved unanimously; 

• Approve a motion to pay Allen Engineering invoice totaling $460 for work on the airport lighting improvement project, and another invoice totaling $1,179.77 for work on the airport runway and taxiway seal coat project. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to pay Gilmer Electric invoice totaling $3,576 for lighting and IT power at Booker T from Bond B monies. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to pay East Central Planning and Development invoice in the amount of $9,999 on the MCWI project. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to advertise for bids on the 2024 paving project for the Street Department. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to approve a road bore for C-Spire along west Myrtle Street. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to approve a road bore for AT&T along Lakeside Drive. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to approve road bores as listed along the following: CR 606, Frog Level Ln., Central Dr., Weyerhaeuser Rd., Pilot St., Saint Francis Dr. – Edgewater Dr., Airpark Rd. – Saxon Rd., Chestnut St., CR 561, Morrow St., and Highway 19 for MaxxSouth. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to hire Peter Malone at $14.63 an hour effective Feb. 29 as a driver with the Fire Department. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to amend the resolution on the Philadelphia Transit to allow an option for aldermen to make a one-time $10,000 donation. The vote was as follows: Shaun Seales, aye, Jim Fulton, aye, James Waltman, aye, James Tatum, aye, and Justin Clearman, nay. The motion passed.