Maine Township – FOIA Response fails smell test!

Cook Co. (ECWd) –

After what appears to be an abuse of General Assistance funds by the Main Township Supervisor Laura Morask, we asked for some more records that should be at her fingertips.

The law mandates certain things when it comes to General Assistance, and the items asked for are the responsibility of the Supervisor, which is why we contend they should be at her fingertips.

1. A copy of the “basic maintenance requirement” established by the Maine Township Supervisor for General Assistance recipients.
2. A copy of all “rules” established by the Township Supervisor for General Assistance recipients.
3. A copy of the Township Supervisors determination, in accordance with local budget standards, for the amount and nature of General Assistance.

The basic maintenance requirement established by the Supervisor, assuming it was ever established, is to be based on local budget standards for the amount and nature and the rules for General Assistance recipients.  Such information should be readily available, as should the rules established by the Superviso, yet the response from the Township is somewhat disturbing.

• The requested records are stored in whole or in part at other locations than the office having charge of the requested records.
• The request requires the collection of a substantial number of specified records.
• The request for records cannot be complied with by the public body within the time limits prescribed by paragraph (c) of this Section without unduly burdening or interfering with the operations of the public body.

Are the records really stored in whole or in part at other locations?  What other locations does Maine Township have where they store records?

A substantial number of records?  Realy?  Three items that are to be established by the Supervisor?  Considering everything requested is tied directly to the administration of General Assistance, are we to believe none of her General Assistance administrative staff have this information?  I might add, an administration that is costing taxpayers over half a million dollars a year.  How can they administer General Assistance without knowing the rules, the amounts, and nature?

Unduly burdening or interfering with the operations of the public body?  What I asked for was directly tied to the Supervisor and her duties to administer General Assistance.  This was not a request that would unduly burden the public body. It was a request that should have been complied with in a matter of a day or two by simply asking the Supervisor for the three items requested, which she is obligated by law to have.

All indications are they are scrambling to come up with something to minimize further embarrassment as if their reply is not embarrassing enough.

The Township Supervisor is a total failure when it comes to General Assistance and compliance with the law in our opinion and should resign immediately.
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