[nfbmi-talk] AMENDED FOIA Response to Request for InformationonE. Rodgers Exp. for Attendance at the NFB MI Convention
joe harcz Comcast
joeharcz at comcast.net
Fri Nov 15 19:35:06 UTC 2013
No, no that wouldn't do at all. I mean an agency for the blind shouldn't
give an actual rip about the people it actually is created and funded to
serve...
Actually a while back our good friend Bernie Kramer (one of the good guys)
on the old MCB 20/20 list congratulated me on going to Western to become a
Rehab Counselor f the Blind.
I said, "heck no I'm not going to be a counselor, I'm going there to be a
Rehab Teacher. I'd never be a Rehab Counselor."
He asked why I wouldn't become a rehab counselor or even consider it.
I said, "Bernie that is because some day I'd eventually run in to a consumer
who is just like me..."
And seriously I'd make a lousy administrator ... Not my cup of tea. But,
you're basic point is most well taken.
Joe
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christine Boone" <christineboone2 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 15, 2013 2:17 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] AMENDED FOIA Response to Request for
InformationonE. Rodgers Exp. for Attendance at the NFB MI Convention
> Shoot why don't you fill out an IPE to be director of LARA.
> You would be great...but wait, in fact no, you would actually want to
> work, to help people, and also to help your Department's employees to do a
> good job. In short, you would want to serve the people whom you would
> recognize as your rightful bosses...we cannot have that going on around
> here.
>
> On Nov 15, 2013, at 2:05 PM, joe harcz Comcast <joeharcz at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Say Christine and All,
>>
>> Do you think I should develop an IPE with BSBP to become the FOIA
>> director for LARA?
>>
>> I mean I can pull numbers out of my backside just as well as any sighted
>> person can make them outup out of thin air.
>>
>> I can tell those pesky citizens and reporters to "bug off" too.
>>
>> Of course, I won't work cheap.
>>
>> How about that one million dollar per year salary Governor Snyder, with
>> perks of course!
>>
>>
>> Again I don't work cheap to if I'm going to sell out citizens blind and
>> sighted alike I'm going to want something hefty. I mean to sell my very
>> own soul, I guess a million per year is pretty cheap.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christine Boone"
>> <christineboone2 at gmail.com>
>> To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, November 15, 2013 1:40 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] AMENDED FOIA Response to Request for
>> Informationon E. Rodgers Exp. for Attendance at the NFB MI Convention
>>
>>
>>> Are you keeping a tally sheet with all of these charges? You should be
>>> close to a million by now, especially with that one charge of $750
>>> thousand for one request.
>>> On Nov 15, 2013, at 12:25 PM, joe harcz Comcast <joeharcz at comcast.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: joe harcz Comcast
>>>> To: Haynes, Carla (LARA)
>>>> Sent: Friday, November 15, 2013 12:24 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: AMENDED FOIA Response to Request for Information on E.
>>>> Rodgers Exp. for Attendance at the NFB MI Convention
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Wow, sounds a little pricey for an agency that is supposed to account
>>>> for literally millions in expenditures of state and federal funds. Of
>>>> course your agency can't even seem to generate a report or answer basic
>>>> questions about expenditures like say for example those related to the
>>>> BEP Capitol renovation expenditures, or even an annualized operating
>>>> budget by category.
>>>>
>>>> Jeez do you all charge the Auditor General's Office or the
>>>> Rehabilitation Services Administration for financials?
>>>>
>>>> Anyway you all are making this citizen who is blind quite proud of the
>>>> transparency efforts of this federally and state funded entity which is
>>>> after all else supposed to be about the rehabilitation and employment
>>>> of people who are blind.
>>>>
>>>> It all sort of makes me warm and fuzzy inside Ms. Haynes.
>>>>
>>>> Oh by the by you sat next to me a few years back when Tom Quasarano of
>>>> the Attorney General's office briefed the then commission for the blind
>>>> on FOIA and OMA. Moroever, I briefed all on obligations relative to the
>>>> ADA and Section 504 obligations.
>>>>
>>>> So you, Ms. Haynes knows precisely the violations of all not only in
>>>> this response but in others.
>>>>
>>>> Finally as stated in other responses I think you all have got this
>>>> thing a bit backwards. I, a private citizen does not work for you or
>>>> your agency. You all work for me and other citizens.
>>>>
>>>> Warmly,
>>>>
>>>> Joe Harcz
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: Haynes, Carla (LARA)
>>>> To: joe harcz Comcast
>>>> Cc: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) ; Luzenski, Sue (LARA) ; Pemble, Mike (LARA)
>>>> ; Belknap, Katie (LARA) ; Duell, Elsie (LARA) ; Essenberg, Rob (LARA)
>>>> Sent: Friday, November 15, 2013 11:43 AM
>>>> Subject: AMENDED FOIA Response to Request for Information on E. Rodgers
>>>> Exp. for Attendance at the NFB MI Convention
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> November 15, 2013
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Mr. Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
>>>>
>>>> E-mail: joeharcz at comcast.net
>>>>
>>>> 1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.
>>>>
>>>> Mt. Morris, MI 48458
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Re: AMENDED - FOIA Response to Request for Information on Expenses for
>>>> Edward Rodgers II for Attendance at the NFB MI Convention
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dear Mr. Harcz, Jr.:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> This email is in response to your October 23, 2013, email request for
>>>> information, received by this office on October 24, 2013. Please be
>>>> advised that the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) is
>>>> processing this request under the state's Freedom of Information Act
>>>> (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq. An extension was taken to November 14,
>>>> 2013.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> You have requested information as described in your email (also
>>>> included below) as:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "I am writing you today to send me the "group billing" for lodging and
>>>> other expenses (including personnel) for your attendance at the recent
>>>> NFB MI State convention.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I also wish to know who was the driver of the state car used for this
>>>> important convention."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In an email to you on November 13, 2013, your request was partially
>>>> granted and partially denied as to existing, nonexempt documents
>>>> pertaining to your request.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> FOIA Response - P.J. Harcz, Jr.
>>>>
>>>> November 15, 2013
>>>>
>>>> Page 2 of 3
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> As to the denied portion of your request, regarding information on "the
>>>> driver of the state car used for this important convention", it has
>>>> come to my attention that we do possess information regarding this
>>>> issue and so I am granting this portion of your request. This
>>>> information will be included with the portion of your previously
>>>> granted request, regarding information on "lodging and other expenses
>>>> for attendance at the recent NFB MI State convention". We estimate
>>>> that the time to process this total request is 2 hours. Section 4(1)
>>>> of the FOIA, MCL 15.234(1), provides that a public body may charge a
>>>> fee for public record search, including the mailing costs, the cost of
>>>> duplication or publication including labor, the cost of search,
>>>> examination, review, and the deletion and separation of exempt from
>>>> nonexempt information.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Please note that nothing within the federal American with Disabilities
>>>> Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA), as
>>>> amended, or the state's FOIA (MCL 15.231 et seq.) requires a public
>>>> body to process FOIA requests free of charge. Further, while the ADA
>>>> and Section 504 of the RA may mandate that, upon request, material be
>>>> produced in an accessible format without charge, neither the ADA or
>>>> Section 504 of the RA preclude a public body from charging costs under
>>>> the state's FOIA. Thusly, please note that no labor fee charges have
>>>> been, or will be, assessed to convert existing, nonexempt public
>>>> records responsive to your requests into an accessible format to
>>>> forward to you.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In order to complete the processing of your request, and based on the
>>>> hourly wages and benefits of the lowest paid Department employee
>>>> capable of performing the necessary tasks to process your request, we
>>>> are requesting a payment of $62.12 in order to begin the processing of
>>>> this request. An invoice is attached that outlines the costs.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Once payment is received, we will process your request. Once the
>>>> process is complete, we may request payment for an additional amount if
>>>> the actual cost of the request exceeds $62.12. Once we receive total
>>>> payment, we will send the information either to you via email or to you
>>>> in the U.S. Mail on
>>>>
>>>> FOIA Response - P.J. Harcz, Jr.
>>>>
>>>> November 15, 2013
>>>>
>>>> Page 2 of 3
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> a USB flash drive (depending on the amount of material responsive to
>>>> your request).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Carla Miller Haynes, FOIA Coordinator
>>>>
>>>> Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Attachments -2: Invoice & Email Request for Information
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> cc: Edward F. Rodgers II
>>>>
>>>> Sue Luzenski
>>>>
>>>> Mike Pemble
>>>>
>>>> Katie Belknap
>>>>
>>>> Elsie Duell
>>>>
>>>> Rob Essenberg
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS
>>>>
>>>> BUREAU OF SERVICES FOR BLIND PERSONS
>>>>
>>>> FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT INVOICE
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> NAME AND ADDRESS OF REQUESTER:
>>>>
>>>> Mr. Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
>>>>
>>>> E-mail: joeharcz at comcast.net
>>>>
>>>> 1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.
>>>>
>>>> Mt. Morris, MI 48458
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> REQUEST RECEIVED: October 24, 2013
>>>>
>>>> TYPE OF REQUEST: Email
>>>>
>>>> REQUEST PARTIALLY DENIED: Yes
>>>>
>>>> EXEMPT INFORMATION WITHHELD/REDACTED: To be determined
>>>>
>>>> EXTENDED RESPONSE NOTICE ISSUED: Yes to November 14, 2013
>>>>
>>>> REQUESTED INFORMATION WILL BE: Emailed/Invoiced For Payment
>>>>
>>>> ACCOUNT CODE: Index: 36200 PCA: 11343
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> DLARA CONTACT: Melvin Farmer, Central FOIA Coordinator
>>>>
>>>> (517) 373-0194, Ottawa Building, 4th Floor, 611 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI
>>>> 48909
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The FOIA provides that the department may charge a fee to comply with
>>>> requests for public records. The processing fee is composed of hourly
>>>> wages and benefit costs of the lowest paid employee(s) capable of
>>>> processing the request; the duplication of records at assessed costs
>>>> per page; mailing costs; and other related special costs. Prior to
>>>> searching and copying requested records, the department may request
>>>> full payment or 50% of the estimated costs exceeding $50.00 with the
>>>> balance required before mailing the records. Assessed costs are
>>>> related to your request for:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "I am writing you today to send me the "group billing" for lodging and
>>>> other expenses (including personnel) for your attendance at the recent
>>>> NFB MI State convention.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I also wish to know who was the driver of the state car used for this
>>>> important convention."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> INVOICE CALCULATIONS
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> LABOR
>>>>
>>>> Locating and Duplicating Cost:
>>>>
>>>> Number of Hours: 1.5 hrs. x Hourly Rate: $31.06 = Amount: $46.59
>>>>
>>>> Examining and Extracting Cost:
>>>>
>>>> Number of Hours: .5 hrs. x Hourly Rate: $31.06 =
>>>> Amount: $15.53
>>>>
>>>> TOTAL LABOR: $62.12
>>>>
>>>> POSTAGE (estimate): To be determined based on the amount of
>>>> information
>>>>
>>>> DUPLICATING: Number of Pages (0) times Copying Rate of $0
>>>>
>>>> OTHER (overtime, audio tapes, discs, photos, security, etc.): $0
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> SUBTOTAL: $62.12
>>>>
>>>> Less waived indigency fee under FOIA Act MCL 15.234 Section 4(1)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> INVOICE TOTAL: $62.12
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> DEPOSIT* $0
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> TO BE PAID*: $62.12
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Make check or money order payable to: STATE OF MICHIGAN
>>>>
>>>> Remit to: Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
>>>>
>>>> Office Services Mailroom
>>>>
>>>> 7150 Harris Drive, PO Box 30015
>>>>
>>>> Lansing, MI 48909
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> RETURN ORIGINAL COPY OF THIS INVOICE WITH YOUR PAYMENT
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *Please note that if a deposit is requested, the indicated amount is an
>>>> estimate of the cost of complying with your request. The actual cost
>>>> may vary somewhat from this amount.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net]
>>>>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 10:49 AM
>>>>
>>>> To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA)
>>>>
>>>> Cc: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>
>>>> Subject: group billing request nfb mi convention
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> October 23 2013 to Rodgers Group Billing NFB MI Convention
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
>>>>
>>>> 1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.
>>>>
>>>> Mt. Morris, MI 48458
>>>>
>>>> joeharcz at comcast.net
>>>>
>>>> 810-516-5262
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> To: Edward Rodgers, Director BSBP
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dear Sir,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I am writing you today to send me the "group billing" for lodging and
>>>> other expenses (including personnel) for your attendance at the recent
>>>> NFB MI State convention.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I also wish to know who was the driver of the state car used for this
>>>> important convention.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> You may send this to me in accessible format which by now you are quite
>>>> aware of.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thank you, by the way for attending and for your responsive and
>>>> enlighten comments to all.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -Ninety-nine Percent of lawyers give the other one percent a bad
>>>> name.Steven Wright
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Cc: NFB MI
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Carla Miller Haynes
>>>>
>>>> LARA Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)
>>>>
>>>> 201 N. Washington Square, 2nd Floor
>>>>
>>>> P.O. Box 30652
>>>>
>>>> Lansing, MI 48909
>>>>
>>>> Telephone: 517-373-2063 or Toll-Free 1-800-292-4200
>>>>
>>>> Fax: 517-335-5140
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> www.michigan.gov/bsbp
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nfbmi-talk mailing list
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>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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