[nfbmi-talk] Fw: FOIA Response to Request for Information onMinutes/Transcripts, State Plan and BSBP Directory

Tue Oct 29 12:06:16 UTC 2013

Just more BS4BP!   Wonder what conflict-of-interest Mr. Rodgers has to hide
here by preventing information disclosure through abusive and oppressive
charging of fees?  Perhaps it is more highly paid unqualified and
incompetent sighted and blind employees added to the taxpayer rehabilitation
funds feeding pen?	

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of joe
harcz Comcast
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 8:10 PM
To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Christyne.Cavataio at ed.gov
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Fw: FOIA Response to Request for Information
onMinutes/Transcripts, State Plan and BSBP Directory

----- 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) 
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 5:02 PM
Subject: FOIA Response to Request for Information on Minutes/Transcripts,
State Plan and BSBP Directory

October 28, 2013

Mr. Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

E-mail: joeharcz at comcast.net

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

Re:  FOIA Response to Request for Information on Minutes/Transcripts, State
Plan and BSBP Staff Directory

Dear Mr. Harcz, Jr.:

This email is in response to your October 21, 2013, email requests for
information, received by this office on October 22, 2013.  Please be advised
that the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons is processing these requests
under the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

You have requested information as described in your emails (which are also
below) as:

"You said at Saturday's NFB MI meeting that BSBP routinely posts information
related to commissioners meetings including minutes/transcripts and State
Plan information which I've requested...

Moreover even the office and staff directory has not been updated (see it
and the link after my signature line for your convenience). In fact it
doesn't even include you.  Now can you send me this stuff in accessible
format without another ludicrous and illegal abuse of the FOIA?"

(Description from email of 10-24-13 at 3:24PM): "Your name is listed but
there are still many changes in the staff directory here which doesn't
include those who have left the or new additions..."

In regards to your request for minutes/transcripts, you previously requested
this information on August 9, 2014, and of which you received a response on
August 29, 2013, granting the information and requesting payment for these
records.  

FOIA Response - P.J. Harcz, Jr.

October 28, 2013

Page 2 of 2

To date, we have not received your payment for this request.  We are
currently in the process of updating our website to include this
information.

In regards to your request for the State Plan for FY14, this document has
been approved by the Rehabilitation Services Administration and has been
posted to our website (www.michigan.gov/bsbp), under Resources.

In regards to your request for an updated BSBP directory, in order to
determine the extent of the research time, the size and number of records of
nonexempt information within BSBP responsive to your request, a search must
be undertaken.  For this reason, it is necessary to extend the time for
response, as permitted by Section 5(2)(d) of the FOIA, through November 12,
2013, for this portion of your request.

If it is determined that there is a cost involved in the processing of this
request, you will be sent an email which will include an invoice outlining
that cost (before or no later than November 12, 2013).  This email may
either request a deposit (if the cost is over $50.00) or request payment of
the total cost if the amount is under $50.00.

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.

Sincerely,

Carla Miller Haynes, FOIA Coordinator

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

Attachments:  Two Email Requests for Information

cc:     Edward F. Rodgers II, Sue Luzenski

          Mike Pemble, Katie Belknap

Elsie Duell

From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net] 
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 3:11 PM
To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA)
Cc: Zimmer, Mike (LARA); BSBPcommissioners; nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org; Elmer
Cerano (E-mail); BRIAN SABOURIN; Christyne.Cavataio at ed.gov
Subject: information and access please basic directory and minutes

October 21 2013 to Rodgers on BSBP Info including Directory

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

joeharcz at comcast.net            

To Ed Rodgers, BSBP

And BSBP Commissioners

(via e-mail)

Dear Mr. Rodgers,

You said at Saturday's NFB MI meeting that BSBP routinely posts information
related to commissioners meetings including minutes/transcripts and State
Plan information which I've requested. Simple fact that you and it does not
do so and all one needs do is visit the web site which I do.

Moreover even the office and staff directory has not been updated (see it
and the link after my signature line for your convenience). In fact it
doesn't even include you.

Now can you send me this stuff in accessible format without another
ludicrous and illegal abuse of the FOIA? Or should I begin charging this
federally funded entity for all the work and research I do like getting an
accurate staff directory, minutes/transcripts and State Plan information
for crying out loud?

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

Cc: MPAS

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: RSA

-----Original Message-----

From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net] 

Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 3:24 PM

To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA)

Cc: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org

Subject: Fw: [nfbmi-talk] information and access please basic directory
andminutes

Sorry slight amendmendment here. Your name is listed but there are still
many changes in the staff directory here which doesn't include those who
have left the agency or new additions like say Mike Pemble, or Robert
Essenberg since October 1, 2012.

----- Original Message -----

From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>

To: "Rodgers, Edward (LARA)" <rodgerse at michigan.gov>

Cc: <Christyne.Cavataio at ed.gov>; "Elmer Cerano (E-mail)" <ecerano at aol.com>;
<nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>; "BRIAN SABOURIN" <BSABOUR at mpas.org>;
<bsbpcommissioners at michigan.gov>; <zimmerm at michigan.gov>

Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 3:11 PM

Subject: [nfbmi-talk] information and access please basic directory
andminutes

October 21 2013 to Rodgers on BSBP Info including Directory

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

joeharcz at comcast.net

To Ed Rodgers, BSBP

And BSBP Commissioners

(via e-mail)

Dear Mr. Rodgers,

You said at Saturday's NFB MI meeting that BSBP routinely posts information
related to commissioners meetings including minutes/transcripts and State
Plan information which I've requested. Simple fact that you and it does not
do so and all one needs do is visit the web site which I do.

Moreover even the office and staff directory has not been updated (see it
and the link after my signature line for your convenience). In fact it
doesn't even include you.

Now can you send me this stuff in accessible format without another
ludicrous and illegal abuse of the FOIA? Or should I begin charging this
federally funded entity for all the work and research I do like getting an
accurate staff directory, minutes/transcripts and State Plan information for
crying out loud?

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

Cc: MPAS

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: RSA

Link:

http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-61256_28313_33130-15006--,00.html

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