Public Record Access:

The Borough of Downingtown complies with the newly enacted Pennsylvania Right to Know Law.  Requests for examination or copies of public records should be made in writing on the Right-to-Know Uniform Request Form (MS Word Format) – (Download Form).  The completed request form may be presented in person, by mail, by facsimile, or by electronic means, and should be addressed to the respective Open Records Officer listed below. 

Records in possession of the Borough of Downingtown are presumed to be a public record unless they fall within a listed exemption, are privileged or are protected from disclosure under a federal or state law or regulation or court order. 

“Record” Definition:

The term “record” means information in any form documenting a “transaction or activity” of an agency.  Records include:  documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, film or sound recordings, electronically maintained information, date and image processed documents. 

Record Format:

A public record will be provided in the medium in which it exists, except that a public record which is kept in electronic format will be duplicated on paper if requested.  The Borough of Downingtown will not compile, maintain, format or organize a public record in a manner in which it does not already do so, nor will it create a public record which does not currently exist in response to a request. 

Fee Schedule: 

Paper Copies:                            .25 cents per page (one side standard 8.5" x 11" page)

Certification of a Record:             $5.00 per record

Specialized Documents:               Actual Cost                                                           For example, but not limited to, blue prints, color copies, non-standard sized documents.

Facsimile/Other Media:                Actual Cost

Postage:                                  Actual Cost

Statutory Fees:                         Police Accident Reports $15.00                                   A separate state statute authorizes this amount.

Inspection of Records:                No cost                                                                  Except if redaction of records is required, resulting in copies being provided. 

Prepayment:                             Copying fees estimated to exceed $100 require prepay.

Response Time:                         Five (5) business days                                              (Grant or deny request for records.)

Denial/Appeal:                           Fifteen (15) business days                                       Time limit for appeal of denial to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.  See address below.

Judicial Review:                         Court of Common Pleas                                              Decision of the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records may be appealed to Chester County Common Pleas Court.

Pennsylvania Office of Open Records:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania                                                                            Office of  Open Records                                                                                    Commonwealth Keystone Building                                                                             400 North Street, 4th Floor                                                                                    Harrisburg, PA  17120-0225                                                                                  Phone:  717-346-9903                                                                                            Fax:  717-425-5343                                                                                               E-mail: openrecords@state.pa.us

Borough of Downingtown                                                                                        Open Records Officer (All Borough Business Except Police)

Steven J. Plaugher                                                                                                Asst. Borough Manager                                                                                          Borough of Downingtown                                                                                          4 W. Lancaster Avenue                                                                                           Downingtown, PA  19335                                                                                       Phone:  610-269-0344 ext. 210                                                                                Fax:  610-269-1580                                                                                               E-mail: splaugher@downingtown.org

Open Records Officer (Police Business Only)

James R. McGowan, III                                                                                           Chief of Police                                                                                                      Downingtown Police Department                                                                              10 W. Lancaster Avenue                                                                                         Downingtown, PA  19335                                                                                        Phone:  610-269-0263                                                                                            Fax:  610-269-8754                                                                                                E-mail:  jmcgowan@downingtown.org