June 27,2006
TO: Ed Surek
Pursuant to the state Open Records Law, Wis. Stat Ann. Sec. 19.31 to 1939,1 am requesting copies of the following records concerning: A meeting with Firefighter Wally Endsley held in the Mayor's office in 2005 regarding alleged negative comments from firefighting personnel regarding Alderman Jeff Radtke. Others who may have been present would include Susan Hart or Mark Zeier.
These records would include any material on which written, drawn, spoken, visual or electromagnetic information is recorded or preserved, regardless of physical form or characteristics, which has been created or is being kept by any authority. The term further includes, but is not limited to, handwritten, typed or printed pages, maps, charts, photographs, films, recordings (on both private and government equipment) , tapes (including computer tapes), computer printouts and optical disks. This would include phone messages, notes, letters, faxes, minutes of meetings, e-mail messages which have been sent, received or deleted, and phone logs including numbers received and called. These records would be obtained from any personal or public sources which were utilized during the course of doing the public's business i.e. tape records, computers etc.
SPECIFICALLY I AM REQUESTING ANY NOTES, MINUTES OR TAPE RECORDINGS REGARDING THIS MEETING.
As provided by the Open Records law, I will expect your response as soon as practicable and without delay. I will assume that if we don't hear from you by the following date July 7.2006 which is 10 days from this request, that you have denied this request.
If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemptions) upon which you rely. Also, please provide all segreable portions of otherwise exempt material.
Please be advised that we are prepared to pursue whatever legal remedy necessary to obtain access to the requested records. I would note that violation of the open records law could result in the award of court costs, attorney fees and actual damages of not less than $100.1 would further note that if a court determines that your noncompliance with the law was arbitrary or capricious; it may award our organization punitive damages and attorney fees as well as fine you up to $1,000.
Thank you in advance for your help. For any further questions, I can be reached at 457-7591.
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