Request for Historical Records on Fishkill Encampment and American Revolution Bicentennial Memorial

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law, I hereby request the following records:

Fishkill Town Clerk
807 Route 52, Room 114
Fishkill, NY 12524

Subject: Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Request

Dear Fishkill Town Clerk:

Pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) (Article 6 of the Public Officers Law), I hereby request access to and copies of the following records:

Documents, maps, and photographs related to the planning, design, construction, and dedication of the American Revolution Bicentennial Memorial in Fishkill, NY, including any records of public meetings or correspondence discussing the memorial.

Historical accounts, personal letters, or diary entries from the time of the Fishkill Encampment that provide firsthand perspectives on the events and daily life at the encampment.

Records of archaeological studies, surveys, or excavations conducted at the site of the Fishkill Encampment, including any findings, reports, or artifacts uncovered during such investigations.

Geographic Information System (GIS) data, maps, and any other relevant spatial data related to the American Revolution Bicentennial Memorial and the Fishkill Encampment, including historical maps that show the layout of the encampment and its surrounding area during the Revolutionary War.

Documents related to the preservation and maintenance of the Fishkill Encampment site and the American Revolution Bicentennial Memorial, including any records of grants, funding sources, or partnerships with preservation organizations.

Any educational materials, brochures, or pamphlets produced by the town or local historical organizations about the American Revolution Bicentennial Memorial and the Fishkill Encampment, intended for public distribution or use in local schools.

In accordance with the FOIL and relevant case law, including Westchester Rockland Newspapers v. Kimball (50 NY2d 575, 581 [1980]), I kindly request that you do not withhold, redact, or delete any records or portions of records unless there is a specific and legitimate exemption under the New York State FOIL. Furthermore, please note that the Court of Appeals in Gould v. New York City Police Department (89 NY2d 267, 277 [1996]) held that an agency must provide access to reasonably segregable portions of a record that are not exempt from disclosure.

If you determine that any portion of the requested records is exempt from disclosure, please provide an itemized list of those exemptions and cite the specific legal basis for each exemption under the New York State FOIL. Additionally, I request that you release any reasonably segregable portions of the records that are not exempt from disclosure.

Please be aware that I am prepared to pursue legal action to compel the release of the requested records if they are unlawfully withheld, redacted, or deleted. It is my hope that we can resolve this request amicably and without the need for litigation.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Jordan Lassiter

Dear Becki Tompkins,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing in regards to my recent FOIL request submitted through the contact form on the Town of Fishkill's website. I received a response stating that FOIL requests must be submitted through the website and to click on the FOIL icon and follow instructions. However, due to the size of my FOIL request, I am unable to use the contact form on the website.

I would like to request if it is possible for you to process my FOIL request despite the fact that I am unable to use the contact form on the website. If there is an alternative method for me to submit my request, please let me know.

Additionally, I would appreciate it if you could confirm that the requested information will be made accessible to me in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If there are any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your assistance and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Jordan Lassiter

Hi,

Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Jordan Lassiter