Procedure to Obtain information about the functioning of your local LME Board

If you want to obtain the minutes as associated with the functioning, inclusive of funding, of your local LME, here are some useful guidelines passed to me by a helpful mental health advocate.

1. ask for the Board Packet, inclusive of minutes of the Board's meetings.

2. outline the beginning and end dates

3. when they try to bill you to death, cite the 'Public Records' matter below and cc either Mike Lancaster or Leza Wainwright, co-directors of MH DHHS NC:
"Mike Lancaster" ,"Leza Wainwright"
*******************

re: request for Board Packet records

July 21, 2008

Dear

Thank you for your reply (see below) as associated w/ my request for a 'Board Packet' beginning July 1, 2007 thru July 1, 2008 (you asked for the beginning and end dates). Such a packet would include the minutes of the ---- LME board meetings.

I can appreciate that ---- LME operates on a budget.

This being said, your cost seems excessive (see below). Calling around to copying services in the Asheville area, revealed: 10 cents/ copy

FedEx Authorized ShipCenter
Asheville Postage Express
22 New Leicester Hwy, Suite C
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 255-9250

Additionally, state statutes indicate the following:

Chapter 132.
Public Records.
§ 132-1. "Public records" defined.
(a) "Public record" or "public records" shall mean all documents, papers, letters,
maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business by any agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions. Agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions shall mean and include every public office, public officer or official (State or local, elected or appointed),institution, board, commission, bureau, council, department, authority or other unit of government of the State or of any county, unit, special district or other political subdivision of government.
(b) The public records and public information compiled by the agencies of North
Carolina government or its subdivisions are the property of the people. Therefore, it is the policy of this State that the people may obtain copies of their public records and public information

****free or at minimal cost*****

unless otherwise specifically provided by law. As used herein, "minimal cost" shall mean the actual cost of reproducing the public record or public information. (1935, c. 265, s. 1; 1975, c. 787, s. 1; 1995, c. 388, s. 1.)