In a recent development, the Circuit Court for Harford County ruled against the Cassilly Administration, affirming a violation of the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA). According to an official statement from the Harford County Sheriff's Office, the court's decision, handed down last Wednesday, supports the earlier conclusion of the Public Information Act Compliance Board (PIACB). The board had directed the administration to disclose all records about a lawful request from Sheriff Gahler, stating that they "violated the PIA" by refusing to search potentially responsive documents.
At the core of the dispute is a request made by Sheriff Gahler in September 2023 to obtain full disclosure related to a "feasibility" study by MW Studios Architecture Master Planning (MWS) on the HEAT center project, which potentially overshadowed other qualified firms. Despite the PIACB's decision from March 19 to conduct a thorough search and release all non-exempt responsive public records, the Cassilly Administration and County Attorney Jefferson Blomquist sought to overturn the decision. They continued to withhold the requested information on grounds that, according to a courtroom admission, may verge on illegal interference with a councilman's earlier communications.
During the hearing, Blomquist seemingly accepted that the Cassilly Administration might have committed a crime when intercepting a Councilman's emails and texts. Judge Pierson noted the County Attorney's shifting justifications and issued an immediate bench decision mandating the release of the records within 30 days. This recent judicial ruling reinforces Gahler's push for transparency concerning the administration's handling of the Central Precinct and Training Academy Project and its dealings with MWS.
