I met Frank Moslovich at Cleveland City Hall. Mr. Moslovich, I could tell from overhearing his conversation, was really fed up. (I changed Frank’s name a bit for his privacy)
“I have been telephoning Kim Roberson for five months, leaving messages, and she has never answered me. Does she still work here? Is she here now? I am a City of Cleveland taxpayer. I am paying her salary. Where is she?” (Ms. Roberson is in charge of Public Records Requests at Cleveland City Hall)
“Councilman Kevin Kelly told me the financial records are in the computer. I want a copy of them. If they are in the computer, can’t you just get them out for me?”
The 3 (three) staff persons at the front desk of the Law Department seemed a little uncomfortable – placating Mr. Moslovich would take more hyperbole, more insistence on filling out another Official Public Records Request form, and of course, more time.
Mr. Moslovich, I could tell, was under the impression that by making the effort to come down personally to City Hall that he would be able to meet with Ms. Roberson and ACTUALLY GET THE PUBLIC RECORD in which he was interested.
I KNEW that wasn’t going to be happening.
I heard the staffers telling Mr. Moslovich that the Public Records Law allowed “reasonable time” for any public records request to be answered.
I thought to myself – five months – seems Mr. Moslovich has allowed plenty of “reasonable time”.
From my own experience with public records requests from Cleveland City Hall, I knew there were some requests that just wouldn’t be produced by the City. The financials which Mr. Moslovich wanted from Kevin Kelly’s ward were probably one of the public records requests which just went into a Black Hole at the City.
I suggested to Mr. Moslovich that he make his story known on the internet (I was thinking of introducing him to Realneo) – But Mr. Moslovich told me that he did not have any familiarity with the internet or computers. I suggested that he write a letter and send it in to the Plain Dealer. Mr. Moslovich told me that he had telephoned Henry Gomez many times, (because Mr. Gomez covers City Hall for the Plain Dealer) leaving Mr. Gomez messages, and that Mr. Gomez had never called back.
“What else can I do?” Mr. Moslovich asked me.
(I knew Mr. Moslovich could spend $10,000.00 or so on a lawyer or two and sue the City for the Records and maybe get the records in a few years if the records weren't accidentally lost or deleted.)
I told Mr. Moslovich that I would contact
Mr. Gomez for him.
PS Mr. Gomez: I will email you Mr. Moslovich's telephone No. Please give him a call.
Happy Holidays!