While the term “reasonable time” is not subject to precise definition in the abstract, it is used in two senses in the law. Records must be made available for inspection at all reasonable times during regular business hours. A request to inspect records just before the end of regular business hours need not be honored if it would require the employee to work overtime. The applicant should be directed to return during business hours. Copies are also to be provided within a reasonable time. While an exact time limit cannot be set, the volume of the request as well as other duties of the employee are factors to be considered. Generally, requests should be processed within three workdays, but voluminous record requests may take longer. Effort should be made to fill requests as soon as possible particularly if the request is for only a few pages, but reasonable time does not mean immediately. Compliance with records requests is not given by law priority over other duties of the employee.
(Ord. 05-16. Passed 3-21-05.)