Phillip Pantuso reports in the Times Union that on August 6 the Saugerties Town Board tabled a motion to deny “any and all” requests and appeals under New York’s Freedom of Information Law for records about resignations and retirements in the town and village of Saugerties. The state Committee on Open Government says that, if passed, that would violate state laws governing public records. Towns can block Freedom of Information Law requests for “an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy,” but cannot create a blanket exception to rights of access for personnel records, according to Kristin O’Neill, assistant director with the state Committee on Open Government. She said, “In our opinion, a policy to deny any and all FOIL requests and FOIL appeals pertaining to records of resignations and retirements — without conducting a review of each of the relevant records to determine whether disclosure would, in each instance, constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy — is inconsistent with an agency’s obligations under the law." Less than a month ago Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra retired. At the time he was suspended while the Ulster County district attorney’s office investigated sexual assault and harassment allegations against an officer and the department’s handling of those allegations. Saugerties Council member Mike Ivino would not say whether the issue was about Sinagra, but did say, "As far as releasing these records, if we set a precedent, it might impact future communications. We’re protecting employees’ confidentiality.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.