Q: What are a person’s rights under the Public Records Act? A: Generally, a person’s rights include the right to a prompt inspection of public records and, upon request, the right to copies of those public records within a reasonable period.
Q: Are there any exceptions under the Public Records Act? A: Yes. The Act specifically identifies certain exempt records, including medical records, trial preparation records, confidential law enforcement investigatory records, and adoption records, among others.
Q: What is Ohio’s “Open Meetings Act”? A: This law essentially requires all public bodies to take all official actions and hold all deliberations on official business in meetings that are open to the public.
Q: Do public bodies have to keep minutes? A: Yes. The public bodies have to keep complete and accurate minutes to enable the public to understand and appreciate the rationale behind the public body’s decisions. Those minutes are public records.
Q: Can a public body ever hold meetings in secret? A: Yes. There are specified reasons for a public body to adjourn into an “executive session.” However, the body is going into an executive session must be part of a public meeting, and proper protocols must be followed. These sessions are not open to the public. The reasons justifying an executive session include discussions about personnel matters, the purchase of property, pending or imminent court action, and collective bargaining.
