All records and accounts of every department and agency of the town, except as hereinbefore provided for with respect to certain school matters, shall be deemed to be public records and shall be open to inspection at a central repository by any citizen of the state without giving any reason therefor, at all reasonable times and under reasonable regulations established by the council, except those records and documents the disclosure of which, in the opinion of the council, would tend to defeat the lawful purpose which they are intended to accomplish, and except such records as are required or permitted by the laws of the state to be kept confidential. (Amended, November 5, 2002.)