How to Submit a Right-to-Know Request in Union County

Why this matters and what the law gives you Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law gives you the right to request public records from Union County agencies, whether you are investigating a local contract, checking meeting minutes at the Government Center, or seeking records from Union Township. Knowing the correct form, the right recipient, and the timeline can be the difference between receiving documents in days and suffering months of delay. The law also protects requesters from having to disclose motive: "The law prohibits an agency from requiring anyone 'to disclose the purpose or motive in requesting access to records.'"

Primary Union County contacts and where to send requests For county-level records, address your submission to: Union County Government Center, Attn: Open Records, 155 N. 15th Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837. The Commissioners Office at the Government Center is available 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; phone (570) 524-3894 and fax (570) 524-3889. Susan Greene is listed as Chief Clerk Administrator on the county Right-to-Know page, which also posts the county’s Right-to-Know submission form and Right to Know Policy and Procedures. Note that the county page lists an email contact field for the Chief Clerk Administrator but does not display an email address in the posting excerpt; if you plan to submit by email, confirm the address on the county site before sending.

Union Township contacts and specific municipal instructions If your records are municipal, Union Township asks you to download, complete and submit the PA Right To Know Request Form; the Township has committed to responding within five business days. Township submission options include fax to 844-758-7870, mail to PO Box 184, Winfield, PA 17889, or in-person delivery at 70 Municipal Lane, Winfield, PA 17889. Wendy Yoder is the Township Open Records Officer and can be reached by phone at 570-524-4589; the Township accepts emailed requests at the address listed on its official page. Use the Township’s instructions when the records you seek are municipal rather than county level.

The statewide adjudicator: Office of Open Records (OOR) If the county or a municipality denies your request or does not respond, you can appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The OOR’s mailing address is 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2234; phone 717-346-9903 and fax 717-346-5343. The OOR publishes a standard RTKL request form and maintains a searchable database of agency open records officers, which is useful when identifying the right person to receive your request.

Acceptable submission methods and form requirements Agencies must accept requests by U.S. mail, fax, email, or in person, and every agency must accept the OOR standard RTKL request form. If you choose email, make sure you send it to the agency’s posted open records officer address; sending to the wrong email can produce a technical denial. Agencies may also require their own forms or portals for legislative or judicial bodies, so check the target agency’s RTK policy before you submit.

What to include in your request: the checklist

A complete request reduces delays. Use the agency’s form or the OOR standard form and include:

• Date of request and method of submission (mail, fax, email, in person).
• Your full name and mailing address; city, state and county. Mailing address may be required if records are hard-copy or must be sent on a storage device.
• Telephone number (optional) and email if you want an electronic response.
• Company name if you are requesting on behalf of an organization.
• A precise description of the records sought, including subject matter, time frame, and record type. The OOR form warns: "RECORDS REQUESTED: Provide as much detail as possible, including subject matter, time frame, and type of record sought. RTKL requests must seek records, not ask questions. Use additional pages if necessary."
• Delivery preference: printed copies, electronic copies, in-person inspection, or certified copies.
• Preferred contact method for clarification: telephone, email, or U.S. mail.
• If using the OOR form, the residency affirmation checkbox and its exact language are important to note: "By checking this box, I affirm that my full name and contact information is true and correct, and that I am a legal resident of the United States. I understand that failure to check this box may result in the denial of my request and the dismissal of any appeal filed with the Office of Open Records." Retain a copy of both pages of the completed form: you will need it if you appeal.

Timeline and appellate deadlines In most cases, the RTKL requires agencies to respond within five business days. Union Township explicitly notes a five business day response window; legal guidance reiterates the same statutory standard. If your request is denied or deemed denied, you generally have 15 business days to file an appeal with the OOR. Those deadlines are firm: plan to track submission dates and retain your copy of the request so you can meet the 15-business-day appeal window.

Common pitfalls that cause denials or lengthy delays Technical errors are the most common source of delay. As counsel Joshua D. Bonn warns, "Submitting the wrong form to the wrong person could delay your access to public records—literally for years." Other frequent problems include phrasing requests as questions rather than as records requests, being too broad without time frames, and not providing a mailing address when records are only available in hard copy. Agencies may also redact sensitive items rather than release them; examples of non-public information include Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, personal phone numbers, financial information, home addresses for certain law enforcement officers and judges, records identifying social service recipients, and a minor’s personal details.

Practical tips to get records faster

• Address the request to the agency’s designated Open Records Officer. The OOR maintains a directory to help you find the correct officer.
• Use the OOR standard form or the agency-specific form posted on the county or municipal site. Every agency must accept the OOR form.
• Be as specific as possible about subject, date range and record type, and avoid asking questions. "You must describe the records you want in as much detail as possible so the agency can identify the record. Don't ask questions," guidance from how-to resources advises.
• Keep an exact copy of everything you send, and log delivery confirmations when emailing or faxing. You will need that proof for any appeal.
• If the Open Records Officer contacts you for clarification or to negotiate redactions, engage in good faith; as Bonn notes, "Don’t assume this means the agency is giving you a hard time or hiding something. Open records officers are usually clerical staff who may not be familiar with all the different matters handled by the agency."

A practical workflow you can follow 1. Identify which agency holds the records and find its Open Records Officer and RTK policy on the agency website. 2. Complete the OOR standard RTKL form or the agency-specific form, including all required fields and a detailed record description. 3. Submit by the method the agency accepts and prefers — mail to Union County Government Center, Attn: Open Records, 155 N. 15th Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837; fax or in person where listed; or email to the address the agency posts. For Union Township, use PO Box 184, Winfield, or deliver to 70 Municipal Lane, Winfield, fax 844-758-7870, or the Township’s posted email. 4. Retain copies and proof of submission. Track the five business day response clock. 5. If denied or deemed denied, prepare your appeal and file with the OOR within 15 business days.

Final note on accountability Union County’s posted Right-to-Know forms, the Township’s five-day response promise, and the OOR’s appeal process create a clear path for public oversight, but that path requires accuracy and persistence from requesters. Follow the form fields, direct your request to the named Open Records Officer, keep copies, and be ready to appeal within the 15-day window if necessary. The RTKL exists to make government more transparent; using it correctly is how you hold local institutions accountable.