In a legal tussle that has stretched over 16 long months, Harford County's quest to keep certain budget session notes under wraps has hit another wall. A Circuit Court Judge has sided with transparency, ordering the release of documents previously held back by local administration officials, maintaining the Public Information Act's reach in such matters.
Specifically, last Monday, Judge W. Michel Pierson reiterated the need for public access to government documents, a stance previously taken by the Public Information Act Complaint Board (PIACB). In January, the PIACB had found no merit in withholding Robert McCord’s notes, with the Court now upholding that decision. The notes in question, hailing from a budget session dated April 30, 2024, became a peculiar footnote in the story of public records, stirring up a debate on executive privilege and transparency.
Despite this ruling, the Cassilly Administration, which has fought against the release, has not yet made these records available. "The ruling by Circuit Court Judge W. Michel Pierson to uphold the Public Information Act Compliance Board’s (PIACB) directive requiring the release of handwritten notes from a County Council Budget Work Session is not just a win for my office, it’s a win for every taxpayer in Harford County," Sheriff Gahler said in a statement released by Harford Sheriff's Office. Gahler emphasized the significance of this legal victory for public access and criticized the administration's continued appeals as "frivolous and repeated challenges."
The Court's decision has made it clear that executive privilege does not extend to shield these specific documents from public view. However, the tax dollars of Harford County citizens have been spent on what some consider unnecessary litigation. In spite of the direct court order, pressing the "send" button on an email – an act that would fulfill the legal obligation to disclose the notes- remains a pending action from Mr. Cassilly and his Administration.
