A. The village of Worth shall respond to requests for public records in one of three (3) ways:
1. Approve the request.
2. Approve in part and deny in part.
3. Deny the request.
B. Upon approval of a request for public records, the village may either provide the materials immediately, give notice that the materials shall be made available upon payment of reproduction costs, or give notice of the time and place for inspection of records.
C. If the request should be denied by claiming an exemption for "personal information" or "preliminary drafts" pursuant to the FOIA, the freedom of information officer shall provide written notice to both the requestor and the Illinois attorney general public access counselor of the village's intent to deny the request in whole or in part. This notice shall include: a copy of the original FOIA request; the proposed response from the village; and a detailed summary of the village's basis for asserting the exemption.
D. A denial of a request for public records shall be made in writing. It shall state the reasons for the denial and the names and titles of individuals responsible for the decision. If the denial is pursuant to an exemption set forth in the FOIA, the notice of denial shall specify the exemption. It shall also give the notice of the requestor's right to appeal to the Illinois attorney general public access counselor.
E. Categorical requests creating an undue burden upon the village shall be denied only after extending to the requestor an opportunity to confer in an attempt to reduce the request to manageable proportions in accordance with the FOIA.
F. The village attorney will provide assistance in FOIA requests as needed. (Ord. 10-13, 4-20-2010)