Appeals Court Ruling on Duncan Twp. Board
The Michigan Court of Appeals says handwritten notes taken by a township official in the western U.P. for personal use are not public under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
Frank Pentti is a member of the Duncan Township board.
The appeals court has upheld a decision in Houghton Circuit Court that notes Pentti took during township board meetings in 2009 were for his own use and were not part of the township’s public record.
The state court says Pentti’s notes were not read into the record, were not shared with other township board members and were not viewed by the township clerk, who compiled meeting minutes.
It’s not clear why township resident Doug Hopkins wanted Pentti’s notes.