Public Information Act Requests
The Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) ensures that citizens have access to information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees. The MPIA provides that a “custodian” of a record shall allow a person to inspect any public record at any reasonable time.
The law provides for a number of reasons why the custodian must or may deny a public record, contains provisions for fees that may be charged to a person requesting a public record and states the time within which the custodian must provide the public records.
HOW TO MAKE A PIA REQUEST
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Step 1: Gather the Items Needed for Your Request
Provide a timeframe and specify what is being requested. Remember to be as detailed as possible.
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Step 2: Identify the Appropriate Department
The County Attorney should only receive PIA requests for the Office of Law. Please identify the appropriate Department by reviewing the list included below. The PIA request should be sent to the department responsible for the program or services identified in the request.
In this example, the request is for records related to Stormwater Management (SWM), making Environmental Protection and Sustainability the most appropriate department for the request.
"I would like to request information for the records of all of the storm water plans, storm water capacity, maintenance records, and if any water monitoring studies have been implemented since the last floods of May 2018 or prior to May 2018?"
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Step 3: Review Your Request
Including the required information within your request is vital. Prior to emailing or mailing your request to the appropriate department listed below, ensure that you have completed steps one and two.
DEPARTMENTS AND CUSTODIAN INFORMATION
Using the list below, identify the appropriate department and custodian for the PIA request.
| Department | Contact Information |
|---|---|
| 911 Communications Center | Tammy Price, Chief County Courts Building Phone: 410-307-2000 |
| Aging | Elisabeth Sachs, Acting Director 611 Central Avenue, Room 303 Phone: 410-887-2109 |
| Budget and Finance | Kevin D. Reed, Director Historic Courthouse Phone: 410-887-3313 |
| Corrections | Kelly Shaw, Personnel Manager Baltimore County Detention Center Phone: 410-512-3417 |
| County Council | Thomas H. Bostwick, Legislative Counsel/Secretary Historic Courthouse Phone: 410-887-3196 |
| County Executive and Administration | D'Andrea L. Walker, County Administrative Officer Historic Courthouse Phone: 410-887-2450 |
| Economic and Workforce Development | Jonathan Sachs, Director Historic Courthouse Phone: 410-887-8000 |
| Elections | Ruie Marie LaVoie, Director 5 Crossing Way Phone: 410-887-0902 |
| Environmental Protection and Sustainability | Horacio Tablada, Director County Office Building Phone: 410-887-8028 |
| Fire | Joseph E. Dixon, Sr., Fire Chief Public Safety Building Phone: 410-887-2071 |
| Health and Human Services | Elyn Garrett-Jones, Public Information Officer Drumcastle Government Center Phone: 410-887-3072 |
| Human Resources | Dawn Scarpulla 308 Allegheny Avenue Phone: 410-887-3139 |
| Information Technology | Christopher Martin, Director Historic Courthouse Phone: 410-887-2441 |
| Office of the Inspector General | Kelly Madigan, Executive Director Historic Courthouse Phone: 410-887-6500 |
| Law | James R. Benjamin Jr., County Attorney Historic Courthouse Phone: 410-887-4420 |
| People's Counsel | Emily Jolicoeur, People’s Counsel Jefferson Building Phone: 410-887-2188 |
| Permits, Approvals and Inspections | Peter Gutwald, Director County Office Building Phone: 410-887-3353 |
| Planning | Stephen Lafferty, Director Jefferson Building Phone: 410-887-3211 |
| Police—Media Inquiries | Joy Stewart, Director of Public Affairs Public Safety Building Phone: 410-887-2210 |
| Police—Non-Media Inquiries | Melissa Garrett Public Safety Building Phone: 410-887-2211 |
| Public Library | Sonia Alcantara-Antoine, Director 320 York Road Phone: 410-887-6100 |
| Public Works and Transportation | Lauren Buckler, Director County Office Building Phone: 410-887-3300 |
| Recreation and Parks | Lisa Winters, Executive Secretary 9831 Van Buren Lane Phone: 410-887-3810 |
| Revenue Authority | Ken Mills, Executive Director 115 Towsontown Boulevard Phone: 410-887-3127 |
| Sheriff | Lieutenant Charles Stahm County Courts Building Phone: 410-887-3151 |
| State's Attorney | Lisa Fox Dever, Deputy State's Attorney County Courts Building Phone: 410-887-6660 |