Access
to histories shouldn't be censored, resident tells Smithfield
council
By Kathryn Kemp
November 1, 2005 | SMITHFIELD -- The
decision has been made, the council has voted and the
fees have been set, but for one Smithfield City resident,
the issue regarding access to personal histories is
not over yet.
Dirk Howard expressed his concerns about the accessibility
of the histories in a letter to the Smithfield City
Council meeting Wednesday night. Howard was present
at the council meeting on Oct. 26, when the council
met with Glen Jay Thornley, chairman of the Smithfield
Historical Society, and agreed to allow him to charge
$3 per copy of the histories. Thornley felt the records
should not be available for just anyone to read due
to the private material in some of the records. Some
of the council and the mayor did not agree with that,
and neither did Howard.
"I am strongly opposed to this type of censored access
to information that the city (and my tax dollar) has
already paid for," Howard wrote in his letter to the
council. He said he understands and agrees with the
reasons behind the fees, but thinks the histories should
be available at the library for anyone to read. Then,
if needed, people can pay to print off a copy.
"I request that these personal histories be placed
in the Smithfield City Library so that any citizen may
browse, and read, this slice of history regarding Smithfield
and its citizens," his letter concluded.
The council explained to Howard they had decided with
Thornley at the last council meeting that the records
would be on CD at the library for citizens to look at
and decide if they wanted to pay for a copy. Mayor-elect
Chad Downs added that the issue is on the agenda for
the Library Board meeting that will be held next week.
He said the library plans on making sure the records
are there and open to anyone.
Howard said he was just a concerned citizen and wanted
to make sure things were being done in the best interest
of the citys residents.
The council assured him that they would be certain
the histories would be accessible. Especially because,
as Mayor Ray Winn said, it is pretty amazing to have
something like that available.
Other council business included:
-- approving the Annual Audit Report.
-- accepting a petition from Kelly Stafford for the
annexation of property.
-- setting a time and places to canvass the election
results.
-- approving the appointment of a new police sergeant.
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