Lifting the lid on government data | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

“Mainers who have trouble getting information from government agencies soon will have an ally at the State House.  Gov. Paul LePage and the Legislature this year funded a public access ombudsman's position in the Attorney General's Office... It's one of several significant changes in the state's Freedom of Access Act that took effect Thursday and are expected to make it easier for Mainers to get public records.  Mal Leary, vice president of the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition, called the move to finally fund the ombudsman's position ‘a huge improvement.’ Lawmakers budgeted as much as $88,000 for the position, including salary and benefits.  This person will be there for everyone, to hear right-to-know issues so people don't have to go to court,’ said Leary, who runs Capitol News Service...  The Attorney General's Office will soon name a lawyer to fill the ombudsman's position, said Linda Pistner, chief deputy attorney general. The opening was advertised internally and to district attorney's offices across the state. Three people applied, and interviews have been conducted.  Maine joins several states that fund similar positions, including Connecticut, New York, Washington and Texas, said Ken Bunting, executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition... Maine's revamped Freedom of Access Act clarifies various procedures for public information requests and requires each government agency to appoint and train an employee to be its ‘public access officer.’ ‘It was an effort to strengthen the existing law and to see that it's more universally applied,’ said state Sen. Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport, who sponsored the amendments.  On Thursday, the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition plans to honor Rosen for his long-term commitment to open government when members give him the group's Sunshine Award, Leary said.  The updated law also directs public agencies to "consider" buying computer software and other information technology that will maximize access to and exportability of public records while protecting confidential information.  Rosen had hoped for stronger language, he said, but many state officials opposed being forced to buy technology to increase public access...  Some say the updated law also falls short in dealing with so-called nuisance or serial requests for public information. That's when a citizen or group submits multiple requests that take a lot of time to fulfill.  With any request, the first hour of staff time is free. After that, the requester must pay as much as $15 per hour -- up from $10 before the changes took effect. If the estimated cost exceeds $100 or the requester has failed to pay past copying fees, an agency may require advance payment.  Falmouth Town Manager Nathan Poore said he believes the law should go further. He suggests limiting requesters to 10 hours per year when they would be charged the $15 rate. After that, he said, they should be charged the hourly cost of the employee who's fulfilling the request, including wages and benefits.  Poore said he speaks from experience. He and his staff have spent thousands of hours over the last two years responding to information requests from Michael Doyle, a Falmouth resident who monitors town government.  Poore gets a few requests each week from Doyle, for things like the harbormaster's fuel receipts and the school superintendent's emails.  Doyle has paid as much as $2,500 for public records in Falmouth since early 2010, Poore said, but that doesn't come close to covering the $10,000 to $15,000 in staff time that has been consumed by his requests...”