Article archive / April 1, 2015
Originally published: . Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 4.
On March 19 the publisher of the Times, J. Nelson, visited the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Psychologists and asked to examine public documents. The right to examine public documents is provided for to all citizens over the age of 18.
Nelson was greeted by the Executive Director, Ms. Kelley Parker, who reviewed Nelson’s request to examine five items. These were: 1) board’s internal policies and procedures for conducting investigations of psychologists; 2) board’s job descriptions for staff, including paid investigators, and also any documents setting out the policies and procedures for hiring of staff; 3) the resumes and job applications for the current executive director and investigators; 4) the policy and procedures for hiring consulting attorneys, the resumes of current contract attorneys; and 5) a copy of Mr. Lunceford’s 2009 memo listed in the minutes of May 8, 2009, concerning the effects of Act 251 on the operators of board.
Parker stated to Nelson that it was Parker’s right to consult with legal counsel and after some discussion about the five different items, Parker left the lobby saying she would call the board’s attorney to review the request.
Parker returned approximately 15 minutes later with a written response. The response acknowledged Nelson’s request and “I am invoking our right to have your request and responsive documents reviewed by legal counsel prior to disclosure.” And, that a response would be provided on March 31.
Nelson asked if all the items needed to be reviewed and Parker said she was invoking the right on all the items. However, Parker said that there were no documents on hiring, item number four. After a brief discussion, Nelson left.
On March 25, Parker emailed Nelson, saying that she was updating Nelson on the status of the March 19 request, and that due to the office schedule and staffing issues, she would be unable to fulfill the request by March 31. She anticipated that the documents would be available on April 2. Nelson asked if she (Nelson) would come into the office on Monday the 30th and examine documents but Parker said the documents would not be available until April 2.
Public Records law allows citizens to examine public documents, except in cases established by law. If any record contains material which is not a public record, the custodian may separate the nonpublic record and make the public record available for examination. It is not clear what confidential material would be kept in the policies and procedures manuals.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.