SEAL BEACH : Public Information Policy to Be Studied

Mayor Frank Laszlo said at this week’s City Council meeting that he wants the council to examine the city’s policy regarding the release of public information.

Laszlo’s suggestion was prompted by newspaper articles and complaints from residents about the difficulty of looking at public documents in Seal Beach. Under the state Public Records Act, all documents are to be available to the public unless they fall under a list of exceptions.

“Our liability attorney is very cautious, and he states there are certain things we can’t talk about, and there are other instances when sometimes the staff is at a standstill over what should be released,” Laszlo said.

He instructed city staff members to draft a policy for the council’s consideration.

“You do have a policy, and the policy is to hide everything from the public,” countered resident Sue Corbin. “I have never been able to get a document from the Finance Department. I think it would be wise if you come up with a policy to follow state and federal law.”

Corbin asked City Atty. Quinn Barrow to read aloud to the audience a man’s claim seeking $20 million from the city. The man alleged that the Police Department mishandled his report of an assault last year.

Barrow did read the claim, though he expressed concern about the propriety of doing so.