Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Requests
All FOIL requests must be made in writing either via in-person visit, U.S. mail, or by e-mail. Please be as specific as possible in describing the records in which you are interested.
Email submission: Include FOIL Request in your subject line, in the case of sending by e-mail. (townclerk@townofessexny.gov)
Postal Mail: You can download, print and submit this form. Within five business days of the receipt of a request, we will send an acknowledgement that we received the request.
Essex Town Clerk
P.O. Box 45
Essex, New York 12936
Please be advised that pursuant to Public Officers Law - PBO § 87(1)(b)(iii), the Town of Essex shall charge 25 cents per photocopy.
New York State has published an excellent FAQ about the FOIL process which is of service to the public and to the municipality.
APPEALING A FOIL DECISION
A denial of access to records must be in writing, stating the reason for the denial, and advising you of your right to appeal to the head or governing body of the agency or the person designated to hear appeals by the head or governing body of the agency.
You may appeal within thirty (30) days of the denial. Upon receipt of the appeal, the Appeals Officer will independently review the withheld records and the reasons provided for withholding them and make a final determination as to whether they were improperly withheld or must be released. The Appeals Officer has ten (10) business days to fully explain in writing the reasons for further denial of access or to provide access to the records.
Copies of all appeals and the determinations must be sent by the agency to the Committee on Open Government. Public Officers Law §89(4)(a). This requirement enables the Committee on Open Government to monitor compliance with the law and intercede when a denial of access may be improper. Furthermore, you may seek judicial review of a final agency denial by means of a proceeding initiated under Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
If you would like to appeal a decision, please contact the Essex Town Supervisor FOIL Appeals Officer, Ken Hughes, at (phone) 518-963-4287 x4; (fax) 518-963-4288; (mail) Town of Essex FOIL Appeals Officer, PO Box 355, Essex, New York, 12936.