On January 1, 2009, a new Right to Know Law (the “RTKL”) took effect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under this statute (Act 3), public records of the Altoona Housing Authority are generally available to the public who requested them. The Altoona Housing Authority is required to make available for public inspection records which meet the generally outlined qualifications set forth in the Act. For more information regarding the Act, please contact the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records at the Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120-0225, Phone: (717) 346-9903 – Fax: (717) 425-5343. They can also be reached at the following website: http://openrecords.state.pa.us.
Public Record
The Right to Know Law defines a public record as information, regardless of physical form, which documents a transaction or activity of the Altoona Housing Authority and that is created, received or retained pursuant to law or in connection with a transaction, business or activity of the Altoona Housing Authority.
Requests and Contact Information
There are four ways to request a public record from the Housing Authority: 1) In person; 2) By Mail; 3) By E-Mail; and 4) By Fax.
Requests for public records can be made by completing and submitting the Housing Authority’s Right to Know Request Form (PDF). The Altoona Housing Authority will also accept the forms supplied for making such requests by the Commonwealth Office of Public Records Public Records Access Form.
All such requests should be submitted, by mail or in person, to the Altoona Housing Authority’s Open Records Officer, as follows:
Mrs. Cheryl Johns
Executive Director
Altoona Housing Authority
2700 Pleasant Valley Boulevard
Altoona, PA 16602
By fax to: (814) 949-2025
By e-mail to: cheryl.johns@altoonahousing.org
If you have questions about open records, you may contact the Housing Authority’s Open Records Officer at (814) 949-2000.
Response
The Altoona Housing Authority will respond to your request in the manner required by the Act.
Fees
Paper copies are 25 cents per page plus the actual cost for postage, if mailing is requested. Certification is an additional charge of $3.00. All fees must be paid in advance and are payable to:
Altoona Housing Authority
c/o Open Records Officer
2700 Pleasant Valley Boulevard
Altoona, PA 16602
Appeals
If your request is denied, appeals should be submitted to:
Terry Mutchler, Executive Director
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Office of Open Records
Commonwealth Keystone Building
400 North Street, 4th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225
These appeals will be heard by officers of the Office of Public Records.
All appeals must be in writing, must state the grounds upon which the requestor asserts that the requested records is a public record and must address any grounds stated by the Altoona Housing Authority for delaying or denying the request.
All appeals must be filed within 15 business days of the mailing date of the Altoona Housing Authority’s notice of denial or a deemed denial as defined in the Act. All appeals will be handled in accordance with the Act.
