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In an effort to make Maine more transparent, MaineOpenGov.org has been working to collect spending data from municipalities and school districts in Maine.

Local governments have been wary about giving out this public information, with many towns refusing, stalling or asking for large sums of money to hand over town spending data. You will recount the tale of the Town of Alfred - who spent time and money to get back at The Maine Heritage Policy Center for a request for Alfred town data.

A recent story in the SeaCoastOnline shed some light into the situation, detailing the case of several town officials who refused the mandatory training that would help educate them on Right-to-Know issues and Maine's Freedom of Access laws.

Keeping public information hidden from citizens and taxpayers and refusing required training to help them uphold their duties is not what is needed from local officials in tough economic times and it begs the question - what is there to hide? 

If you are interested in putting your towns spending online, contact MaineOpenGov.org at info@maineopengov.org.

The board of selectmen for the Town of Alfred, apparently inconvenienced and incensed by The Maine Heritage Policy Center's request for public information, have fired back at The Maine Heritage Policy Center with a particularly sarcastic request.

The Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC) requested town employee salary information and town check register information from Alfred's selectman. This public information is available under Maine's Freedom of Access Act and is available to anyone.

As you can see in this return letter to MHPC, Alfred's selectmen request records from MHPC, all of which, with the exception of request number 1, are not legally required of a private non-profit like MHPC.  Curiously enough, the Town of Alfred provided the public records requested, but still felt the need to send such a letter. The letter appears to be some odd attempt at retribution for the efforts of MHPC to obtain public records.

The question is, why is a Maine town like Alfred so upset with a request for public records? Why is providing public information such a hassle for a town who is funded soley by public dollars? 

Assistant Democrat Leader Lisa Marrache (D) - Waterville, responded directly today to several media stories about her proposed bill to hide names from public employees salary information.

Her opinon piece in the Kennebec Journal calls those who publish this public information "sleazy and voyeuristic' and goes on to say at the same time that she is, "a big proponent of transparency in government..."

She can say what she wants, but as the Brunswick Times says,  "Marrache's legislation would put this state back into the dark ages, with respect to Maine's Freedom of Access law... a misguided piece of legislation that deserves a quick death at the committee level, with a unanimous 'ought not to pass' recommendation stamped across the document."

Maybe the good Senator is familiar with the phrase, "actions speak louder than words"