[nfbmi-talk] Fw: Response to Email of June 5, 2014

Thu Jun 19 18:50:11 UTC 2014

----- 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 19, 2014 2:37 PM
Subject: Response to Email of June 5, 2014

Hello Mr. Harcz,

Nothing within the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq; the ADA and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act allow an individual requestor to bill an agency for their time. 

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: 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

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  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