Cortland gives initial reading on new records request policy

CORTLAND — City council on Monday gave initial reading on a new policy on the procedure to follow for public record requests for emails of council members and other city officials.

The ordinance, if passed, will prohibit the review or access of city email accounts of elected officials or city employees without consent or lawful approval through Ohio public records law.

Councilman John Picuri said he requested the ordinance to be placed on the agenda so there is a formal process in place for specific record requests regarding emails.

“I feel there needs to be a process in place when requesting this information. No one should be snooping around in our emails without asking us or going through a process. That to me has been the bottom line,” Picuri said.

He said there have been record req