[nfbmi-talk] Fw: FOIA Response to Request for Information on MARO Payments & Conference

[joe harcz Comcast]

We all know what these payments were for and the ones to MARO are indeed legitmate. In fact much was for the MCRS.

The point of this is to show the outright abuse of the public and the public trust by this rogue organization that can't seem to answer a simple question and which wishes to charge this blind citizen untold and literally hundreds of thousands of dollars for maybe someday answerring them.

It also goes to show along with other so-called FOIA responses that this outlaw organization builds discriminatory surcharges for information in to their bogus FOIA responses.

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Haynes, Carla (LARA) 
To: joe harcz Comcast 
Cc: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) ; Luzenski, Sue (LARA) ; Pemble, Mike (LARA) ; Belknap, Katie (LARA) 
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2014 4:51 PM
Subject: FOIA Response to Request for Information on MARO Payments & Conference


June 13, 2014

 

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 MARO Payments & Conference

 

Dear Mr. Harcz, Jr.:

 

This email is in response to your June 5 & 6, 2014, email requests for information, received by this office on June 9, 2014.  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.

 

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

 

"I am writing you today to request in plain terms just what the payments to MARO were for during the fiscal year to date (see information supplied to you free of charge after my signature line)?"  Note:  see email below for the information supplied.  And "By the way I am now requesting the group billing and precise payment of BSBP for this conference (MARO) as well."

 

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 June 27, 2014.

 

 

FOIA Response - P.J. Harcz, Jr.

June 13, 2014

Page 2 of 2

 

 

 

 

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 June 27, 2014).  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

 

Attachment:  Email Requests  for Information

 

cc:     Edward F. Rodgers II

Sue Luzenski

          Mike Pemble

Katie Belknap



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

Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 7:14 PM

To:    Haynes, Carla (LARA)

Cc:    Rodgers, Edward (LARA); Luzenski, Sue (LARA); Pemble, Mike (LARA); Belknap, Katie (LARA); Jones, Leamon (LARA); Gaston, Diamalyn (LARA); McVoy, Shannon (LARA); McNeal, Gwen (LARA); Neubaum, Marla (LARA); Haney, Wilda (LARA); Cove, Catherine (LARA); Wilborn, Leon (LARA)

Subject:     Re: FOIA Response to Request for Information on Disability Network SW Expenditures

 

June 5 2014 Invoice to BSBP for Disability Network Information

 

And Request Group Billing MARO Conference

 

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

810-516.5262

 

Response to FOIA and My Invoice

 

To: Carla Haynes, FOIA, BSBP

Ed Rodgers, Director, BSBP

 

Dear All,

 

Since I indeed supplied you the information related to this request and since you are dealing with the citizen's money and fail to account for it more fully, and also try to extort from this citizen copious funds for public information I am now invoicing you for my labor in these regards.

 

To wit:

 

I'm charging you for two hours of labor at my rate on this little project alone. That rate is: 100 per hour. Thus remit to my person by check or money order to the address listed above $200.

 

I know Mr. Rodgers won't get this until next week since he is so tied up at the MARO Conference and all those lodgings, wine tastings, and so forth paid for at the public trough for his inane alleviating.

 

By the way I am now requesting the group billing and precise payment of BSBP for this conference as well.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

 

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: RSA, Independent Living

Cc: Zimmer, LARA

Cc: several media

 

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

From: Haynes, Carla (LARA) 

To: joe harcz Comcast 

Cc: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) ; Luzenski, Sue (LARA) ; Pemble, Mike (LARA) ; Belknap, Katie (LARA) ; 

Jones, Leamon (LARA) ; Gaston, Diamalyn (LARA) ; McVoy, Shannon (LARA) ; McNeal, Gwen (LARA) ; 

Neubaum, Marla (LARA) ; Haney, Wilda (LARA) ; Cove, Catherine (LARA) ; Wilborn, Leon (LARA) 

Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 4:51 PM

Subject: FOIA Response to Request for Information on Disability Network SW Expenditures

 

June 5, 2014

 

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 Disability Network SW 

in Kalamazoo

 

Dear Mr. Harcz, Jr.:

 

This email is in response to your May 17, 2014, email request for 

information, received by this office on May 19, 2014, of which an extension 

was taken to June 5, 2014.  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. 

 

You have requested information as described in your email (which is also 

below) as:

 

"Could you in simple English tell me precisely what the BSBP expentitures 

for the Disability Network SW in Kalamazoo (DTMB notations after 

signature line) were for?"  Please see the attached email for this additional 

information.

 

Your request is granted as to existing, nonexempt documents pertaining to 

your request. 

 

We estimate that the time to process this request is 4 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.

 

FOIA Response - P.J. Harcz, Jr.

Page 2 of 

June 5, 2014

 

 

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 deposit of $62.74 in order to begin the processing of this 

request.  An invoice is attached that outlines the costs.

 

Once payment is received for the deposit, we will start the processing of 

your request.  Once the process is complete, we will request payment for 

the additional amount of the actual cost of the request.  When we receive 

this payment, we will send the information either to you via email or to you 

in the U.S. Mail on 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 & Request for Information

 

cc:     Edward F. Rodgers II

     Sue Luzenski

          Mike Pemble

     Katie Belknap

          Leamon Jones, Diamalyn Gaston

     Shannon McVoy, Marla Neubaum

          Gwen McNeal, Cathy Cove

          Wilda Haney, Leon Wilborn

 

 

 

 

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:  May 17, 2014

TYPE OF REQUEST:  Email

REQUEST PARTIALLY DENIED:  No

EXEMPT INFORMATION WITHHELD/REDACTED:  To be determined

EXTENDED RESPONSE NOTICE ISSUED:  Yes to June 5, 2014

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:

 

"Could you in simple English tell me precisely what the BSBP expentitures 

for the Disability Network SW in Kalamazoo (DTMB notations after 

signature line) were for?"

 

INVOICE CALCULATIONS

 

LABOR 

          Locating and Duplicating Cost:  

Number of Hours:  3.5 hrs. x Hourly Rate: $31.37 = 

Amount:          $109.79

          Examining and Extracting Cost:  

                    Number of Hours: .5 hrs. x Hourly Rate: $31.37 = 

Amount:           $15.69

TOTAL LABOR:  $125.48

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:  $125.48

Less waived indigency fee under FOIA Act MCL 15.234 Section 4(1)   

 

INVOICE TOTAL:          $125.48

 

DEPOSIT*  $62.74

 

BALANCE TO BE PAID*:        $62.74

 

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: Sunday, May 18, 2014 11:37 AM 

To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) 

Cc: Luzenski, Sue (LARA); Christyne.Cavataio at ed.gov; BRIAN 

SABOURIN; Marlene Malloy MCRS Dir.; 

nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org; Timothy Beatty RSA; commissioner-

hudson at outlook.com; BSBPcommissioners 

Subject: 

 

May 17 2014 Disability Network SW

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

Joeharcz at comcast.net

 

 

To: Edward Rodgers, Director

Bureau Services to Blind Persons

 

Dear Mr. Rodgers,

 

Could you in simple English tell me precisely what the BSBP expentitures 

for the Disability Network SW in Kalamazoo (DTMB notations after 

signature line) were for?

 

These things should not be difficult to answer.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

 

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: RSA

Cc: MPAS

Cc: MI SILC

 

Attachment:

Mi Transparency - Payments to a Vendor by Agency and Category

Link to Michigan.gov

Michigan.gov

Transparency & Accountability Home |

Contact Us |

FAQs

 

State Expenditures and Accountability Information

 

Welcome to the State of Michigan's accountability Web site, where the 

citizens of Michigan can find information on state expenditures. 

Government transparency and fiscal accountability are defining principles 

of Michigan state government. We continue to explore new opportunities 

for expanding information through the award-winning Michigan.gov Web 

site. The data and information presented within this site will be updated on 

a monthly basis and new features will be added as they become available. 

If you have comments or suggestions regarding this Web site, please 

contact us at

DMB-Contact-OFM at michigan.gov.

List of 4 items

State Expenditures by Category

State Expenditures by Appropriation Unit

Vendor Payments»

Tax Expenditure Reports

list end

 

Payments to a Vendor by Agency and Category

 

Payments to DISABILITY NETWORK SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN by 

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS for fiscal year 2014

 

Table with 4 columns and 15 rows

Agency Name

Category Description

Warrant Date

Payments Total

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

5/12/2014

$500.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

5/1/2014

$500.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

4/15/2014

$500.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

4/11/2014

$500.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

4/4/2014

$1,000.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

3/19/2014

$1,000.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

3/17/2014

$500.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

2/14/2014

$500.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

2/4/2014

$777.50

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

1/7/2014

$150.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

12/27/2013

$1,000.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

12/12/2013

$500.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

12/9/2013

$350.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

11/21/2013

$500.00

table end

Showing 1 - 14 of 14

 

Download Excel Spreadsheet Version of Results

Excel icon (To download, right click on link and select "save target as...")

 

Related Links

List of 10 items

. Michigan Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (ARRA)

. Active Employees by Department

. Definitions of Expenditure Categories

. DTMB Purchasing Operations Contract List

Excel icon

. Executive Budget

. State Budget Office Financial Reports

. State Budget Office Frequently Asked Questions

. Annual Workforce Reports

. Civil Service Job Specifications and Wage Rates

. Economic Development Projects

list end

Michigan.gov Home |

Help & Contacts |

State Web Sites |

Awards

Privacy Policy |

Link Policy |

Accessibility Policy |

Security Policy |

Michigan News |

Michigan.gov Survey

 

Copyright © 2001-2012 State of Michigan

 

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

 



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

Sent: Friday, June 06, 2014 11:06 AM 

To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) 

Cc: Luzenski, Sue (LARA); Pemble, Mike (LARA); Zimmer, Mike (LARA); Christyne.Cavataio at ed.gov; 

Marlene Malloy MCRS Dir.; BRIAN SABOURIN; nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org 

Subject: maro questions

 

June 6 2014 Questions on MARO Payments

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

810-516-5262

joeharcz at comcast.net           

 

 

To: Edward Rodgers, Director

Bureau Services to Blind Persons (Mich.)

Mike Pemble, Deputy Director, BSBP

Sue Luzenski, Admin. Assistant, BSBP

 

Dear Mr. Rodgers,

 

I am writing you today to request in plain terms just what the payments to MARO were for during the fiscal year to date (see information supplied to you free of charge after my signature line)?

 

I thank you in advance for your prompt, courteous, and accessible response to this inquiry from a public servant who is entrusted with federal and state taxpayer's funds and for the purposes of Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living of Michigan's legally blind citizens.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

 

Cc: RSA

Cc: MCRS

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: several

Attachment:

 

 

Source:

http://media.state.mi.us/MiTransparency/Vendor/Warrants?y=2014&v=MARO%20EMPLOYM

ENT%20AND%20TRAINING%20ASSOC&a=641&g=Payments%20to%20School%20District

s%20Local%20Units%20and%20Others&Column=WarrantDate&Direction=Descending

 

 

Payments to MARO EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ASSOC by LICENSING AND 

REGULATORY AFFAIRS for fiscal year 2014

 

Table with 4 columns and 3 rows

Agency Name

Category Description

Warrant Date

Payments Total

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

3/31/2014

$885.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

10/18/2013

$6,325.00

 

 

 

 

Payments to MARO EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ASSOC by LICENSING AND 

REGULATORY AFFAIRS for fiscal year 2014

 

Table with 4 columns and 11 rows

Agency Name

Category Description

Warrant Date

Payments Total

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Payments to School Districts Local Units and Others

5/19/2014

$4,981.57

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Payments to School Districts Local Units and Others

5/2/2014

$7,586.78

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Payments to School Districts Local Units and Others

4/29/2014

$8,750.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Payments to School Districts Local Units and Others

3/17/2014

$4,655.77

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Payments to School Districts Local Units and Others

2/14/2014

$3,769.84

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Payments to School Districts Local Units and Others

1/28/2014

$13,934.67

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Payments to School Districts Local Units and Others

12/20/2013

$4,446.85

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Payments to School Districts Local Units and Others

12/18/2013

$5,076.06

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Payments to School Districts Local Units and Others

11/22/2013

$8,750.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Payments to School Districts Local Units and Others

10/28/2013

$5,250.00

table end

 

 

 

 

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

 
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