FOIL Submission Audit: Village of Scottsville (Moderate Friction / Mandatory Disclosure)
→ This post is part of the Monroe County FOIL Submission Audit.
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TL;DR
The Village of Scottsville provides a downloadable FOIL Request Form (PDF) as its primary and only documented submission method. While the Village clearly acknowledges FOIL timelines and fees, the submission process relies on mandatory personal disclosures and does not clearly document alternative submission methods, Records Access Officer information, or appeal procedures.
How FOIL Requests Are Submitted in the Village of Scottsville
Scottsville’s website lists a FOIL Request under its general “Forms” page. Requesters are directed to download and complete a FOIL Request Form (PDF).
No additional FOIL-specific guidance page is provided, and the website does not clearly explain whether FOIL requests may be submitted by email, mail, or other written means without using the form.
FOIL Request Form Requirements
The Scottsville FOIL Request Form requires the requester to provide:
- Name of applicant
- Mailing address
- Telephone number
- Fax number (optional)
- Email address
- Description of records requested
The form states that a notice of decision will be issued within five (5) business days.
Mandatory Disclosure Identified
Submission is conditioned on disclosure of identifying and contact information not required by FOIL in order to submit a valid request.
The form is labeled as an “application,” and no alternative intake pathway is documented on the website.
foil_request
Timelines and Fees
The FOIL Request Form discloses that:
- A notice of decision will be sent within five (5) business days
- Copies are subject to a $0.25 per document duplication fee
No additional fee schedule or inspection rights are described on the form or website.
Records Access Officer and Appeals
The Village of Scottsville website and FOIL Request Form do not clearly identify:
- A Records Access Officer by name or title
- An appeals officer
- Instructions for filing a FOIL appeal
- Appeal timelines or procedures
Anonymous or Low-Disclosure Submission
The Village of Scottsville does not clearly support anonymous or low-disclosure FOIL submission:
- The FOIL Request Form requires identifying and contact information
- No alternative submission method omitting these disclosures is documented
Assessment
The Village of Scottsville provides a functional but legacy FOIL intake mechanism that relies on a standardized PDF form and mandatory personal disclosures.
Key findings include:
- FOIL submission mechanism exists (PDF form)
- Mandatory disclosure of name and contact information
- Timelines and basic fee information disclosed
- Records Access Officer and appeals process not clearly disclosed
- Alternative submission methods not documented
Summary Scorecard
- FOIL submission method documented: Yes (PDF form)
- Online submission available: No
- Email or written submission clearly documented: No
- Records Access Officer identified: No
- Appeals process disclosed: No
- Mandatory disclosure required: Yes
- Overall assessment: Moderate Friction – PDF-Only
Conclusion
The Village of Scottsville documents a FOIL submission process through a downloadable request form, but conditions submission on personal identifying disclosures and provides limited procedural guidance beyond basic timelines and fees. While the Village acknowledges FOIL obligations, the absence of clear alternative submission pathways, Records Access Officer identification, and appeal information introduces moderate friction at intake.
Within the Monroe County FOIL Submission Audit, Scottsville represents a legacy, form-based FOIL model that functions procedurally but lacks transparency and flexibility.
Legal & Reference Notes
- New York Public Officers Law §§ 87–89
- Village of Scottsville FOIL Request Form (PDF)