Right to Know Request Process

About NH RSA 91-A
The New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A) ensures public access to the actions, discussions, and records of public bodies, promoting accountability and transparency. Public meetings must be open and properly posted in advance, including details on time, location, and topics to be discussed, allowing public attendance. A "meeting" involves a quorum of a public body convening—whether in person or virtually—to discuss or act on public business, including work sessions. However, social gatherings, collective bargaining strategies, and legal consultations are not considered meetings under this law.

• Click here to view the Town’s Administrative Procedure Policy
• Click here to review the NH Attorney General's RTK Memorandum 

Request Information
The Town of Pittsfield has implemented a Right-To-Know Law Request Form (the “Form”) to assist the public and the town with Right-to-Know Law (“RTK”) requests. The Form will help assure that the Town and requester understand the information being sought. The Form is available on our website and at the town hall. While state law does not require a written RTK request, written requests assure all parties have a verifiable copy of the request, and there is no ambiguity as to what is being requested. All official correspondence regarding RTK requests from the town will be in writing and strongly urge that all parties adhere to this practice.

• Online Request
• Download Request Form
  Email your completed request form to [email protected] , or mail it to:

Email your completed request form to [email protected] , or mail it to:

Board Administrator / Right-to-Know Coordinator
Town of Pittsfield
85 Main Street
Pittsfield, NH 03263

The Board Administrator serves as the one point of contact for the Town’s Right-to-Know requests. Staff will work in coordination with the Town Counsel and appropriate department(s) as needed to handle all requests received. 

Next Steps
Upon the receipt of a request, the Selectmen’s Office will either make results available for inspection or photocopy if/when they are immediately available. If the record(s) are not immediately available due to location, utilization, or staff schedule, staff will provide a written acknowledgment of receipt of the request. This acknowledgment will include an estimate of the time reasonably necessary to determine whether the request shall be granted or denied. The written acknowledgment will be provided to the requestor within five (5) business days of the Town’s receipt of the request. 

Applicable Fees
If a copy of a governmental record is requested in paper format or transferred to a USB drive, fees may apply. Please see the Town’s Administrative Procedure Policy for the applicable fee schedule.

Governmental Records Available for Request
The term "governmental records" means any information created, accepted, or obtained on behalf of, any public body, or a quorum of the majority thereof, or any public agency in furtherance of its official function. Without limiting the foregoing, the term "governmental records" includes any written communications or other information, whether in paper, electronic, or other physical form, received by a quorum or majority of a public body in furtherance of its official function, whether at a meeting or outside a meeting of the body." The term "governmental records" shall also include the term "public records."  (RSA 91-A:1-a, III)

Not all governmental records are covered under RSA 91-A. Some common exemptions are:

• Records pertaining to internal personnel practices
• Confidential, commercial, or financial information and any other records whose disclosure would be an invasion of privacy
• Medical, welfare, library user and videotape sales or rental records,
• Notes or materials made for personal use that do not have an official purpose, including notes and materials made prior to, during, or after a public proceeding,
• Preliminary drafts, notes and memoranda, and other documents not in their final form and not disclosed, circulated, or available to a quorum of a public body,
• Written legal advice.

For a full list of exemptions, refer to RSA 91-A:5