How to File a Public Records Request in Glocester, Rhode Island

What Is the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act (APRA)?

The Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act (APRA), R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 38-2-1 et seq., was enacted in 1979 and has been substantially amended several times, most recently in 2012. It guarantees every person — regardless of Rhode Island residency, citizenship, or stated reason — the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records maintained by any state agency, municipality, or other public body, including the Town of Glocester.

A "public record" is defined broadly as any document, paper, map, photograph, electronic file, or other material — regardless of physical form — made or received in connection with the transaction of official business. This includes meeting minutes, contracts, budgets, permits, zoning decisions, tax records, police reports reflecting an adult's initial arrest, and government emails.

The APRA does recognize specific exemptions. Records commonly withheld include: personnel files whose disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy, active law enforcement investigative records, attorney-client privileged communications, draft documents, juvenile records, and — uniquely in Rhode Island — written communications between elected officials and their constituents. The burden of proving an exemption applies rests squarely on the public body, not on the requester.

Read the full text of the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act (APRA) (R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 38-2-1 through 38-2-14)

How to File a Public Records Request with the Town of Glocester

How to Submit Your Request

The Town of Glocester accepts public records requests online, by mail, and in person. The most convenient method is the online form available at glocesterri.gov/records-request.htm, which allows you to submit a request electronically and provide your preferred delivery method (mail or email). Alternatively, you can download and complete the Town's Public Records Request Form (PDF) from the town website and mail it to Jean M. Fecteau, Public Records Officer, P.O. Box B, Chepachet, RI 02814. In-person requests may be submitted directly to the Town Clerk's Office at 1145 Putnam Pike during regular business hours. All requests are time-stamped upon receipt and forwarded to the appropriate department. You are not required to provide identification or explain why you are seeking the records.

Download Required Form

What to Include in Your Request

• Your name and contact information (mailing address or email address for delivery of records)
• A clear description of the records you are requesting, including relevant dates or date ranges if known
• The format in which you want the records (paper copies, electronic files, or inspection only)
• Your preferred delivery method (mail, email, or in-person pickup)
• A statement invoking your rights under the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-1 et seq.
• A request for a cost estimate before any chargeable work is performed, if cost is a concern
• Any specific departments, officials, or subject matters that will help narrow the search

Response Deadlines and What to Expect

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-7(a), the Town of Glocester has 10 business days from the date it receives your APRA request to respond. A "response" means the Town must either provide access to the records, formally deny the request in writing, or notify you that it is invoking an extension. Weekends and legal holidays do not count toward this deadline.

If the volume of records, the number of pending requests, or the difficulty of the search makes it necessary, the Town may extend the deadline by up to 20 additional business days for "good cause," giving a maximum response period of 30 business days. The Town must notify you in writing of any extension and provide a reason and an estimated completion date.

Unlike some states, Rhode Island does not distinguish between residents and non-residents for purposes of the APRA response timeline — the 10-business-day rule applies to everyone.

Importantly, if the Town fails to produce records or formally deny access within the initial 10-business-day window, all copying and search-and-retrieval fees must be waived under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(b). A non-response within 10 business days is treated as a denial, giving you the right to appeal.

Fee schedule: paper copies cost $0.15 per page; search and retrieval is charged at $15.00 per hour after the first hour (the first hour is free); electronic records are charged at no more than the reasonable actual cost of production.

What to Do If Your Request Is Denied or Delayed

If the Town of Glocester denies your APRA request — in whole or in part — it must provide the denial in writing and cite the specific statutory exemption(s) it is relying on under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-7. A failure to respond within 10 business days is itself deemed a denial, giving you the same appeal rights as an explicit refusal.

Common reasons for denial include claims that records are part of an active law enforcement investigation, are covered by attorney-client privilege, or contain personnel information whose disclosure would invade personal privacy. Glocester's Police Department has at least one documented history of delayed response to APRA requests, which ultimately led to a complaint with the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office. That case resolved after the complaint was filed — an outcome that illustrates why using formal appeal channels is effective.

If you believe your request was improperly denied or ignored, you have meaningful options. Start by contacting the Public Records Officer to clarify or resolve the issue informally. If that fails, escalate through the formal appeal process. The Rhode Island Attorney General actively investigates APRA complaints and, when violations are found meritorious, can bring suit in Superior Court on your behalf. If you prevail in court, the APRA mandates that the court award you reasonable attorney's fees under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-9(d).

Steps to Appeal

1. Contact the Glocester Town Clerk (Public Records Officer) to request clarification on the reason for denial or to resolve any misunderstanding about the scope of your request.
2. File a written administrative appeal with the Town Administrator, who serves as the chief administrative officer of the Town of Glocester, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(a). The administrator must issue a final determination within 10 business days.
3. If the denial is upheld or the Town fails to respond to your administrative appeal, file a formal complaint with the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General (150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; phone: (401) 274-4400) under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(b).
4. The Attorney General's Office will investigate your complaint. If it finds the allegations meritorious, it may institute proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief in Superior Court on your behalf.
5. Alternatively, you may bypass the administrative appeal and/or the AG and file suit directly in Rhode Island Superior Court for Providence County (where Glocester's records are maintained), seeking injunctive or declaratory relief under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(b).
6. If you prevail in Superior Court, the court shall award you reasonable attorney's fees and costs under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-9(d). Courts may also impose civil fines of up to $2,000 per willful violation on the Town.
7. Note: If the Town failed to respond within the statutory 10-business-day deadline, all copying and search fees must be waived regardless of the outcome, per R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(b).

Types of Records You Can Request from Glocester, Rhode Island

The Town of Glocester produces and maintains a wide variety of records in connection with its official operations. Under the APRA, all of the following are presumed to be public records unless the Town can demonstrate a specific exemption applies.

• Town Council meeting minutes and agendas
• Town budget documents, appropriations, and financial audits
• Contracts and procurement agreements with vendors and contractors
• Building permits, zoning applications, and variance decisions
• Land use records, subdivision approvals, and comprehensive plan documents
• Tax assessment records and property tax rolls
• Police incident reports and records reflecting the initial arrest of an adult
• Fire and rescue incident reports
• Town employee salary and benefits records (name, title, gross salary, job description, and work location are explicitly public under APRA)
• Correspondence and emails sent or received by town departments in connection with official business
• Board of Canvassers voter registration and election records
• Environmental and land evidence records, including deed filings
• Code of Ordinances and municipal regulations
• Planning Board and Zoning Board of Review decisions and hearing records
• Grant applications, awards, and related financial records

If you're unsure whether a specific document is a public record, file the request anyway. The burden is on the Town of Glocester to justify withholding — not on you to pre-determine what's available.

Tips for Effective Public Records Requests in Glocester