Your Right to Know: Freedom of Access Requests
"The public’s right to information about government activities lies at the heart of a democratic government. The Maine Freedom of Access Act (“FOAA”) grants the people of this state a broad right of access to public records while protecting legitimate governmental interests and the privacy rights of individual citizens. The act also ensures the accountability of the government to the citizens of the state by requiring public access to the meetings of public bodies. Transparency and open decision-making are fundamental principles of the Maine Freedom of Access Act, and they are essential to ensuring continued trust and confidence in our government."
(From www.maine.gov/foaa/)
University of Maine System - Public Access Officer
J. Kelley Wiltbank
University Counsel and Clerk of the Board
16 Central Street
Bangor, Maine 04401
Phone: 207-973-3238
Fax: 207-973-3239
Email: university.counsel@maine.edu
The State Freedom of Access Act requires the University of Maine System to designate a public access officer to serve as the contact person with regard to requests for public records.
Because the University of Maine System consists of System-wide Services, the Chancellor's Office, and seven universities, records are not centrally located. The following are the designated contacts for particular records and the public access officer is available to respond to or assist with requests, and answer any questions.
University of Maine
Julie Hopwood, Senior Advisor to the President
Phone: 207-581-1512
Email: Julie_Hopwood@umit.maine.edu
University of Maine at Augusta
Sheri Stevens, Executive Director of Administrative Services
Phone: 207-621-3110
Email: sheri@maine.edu
University of Maine at Farmington
Laurie Gardner, Executive Director for Finance and Administration
Phone: 207-778-7272
Email: lgardner@maine.edu
University of Maine at Fort Kent
John Murphy, Vice President of Administration
Phone: 207-834-7516
Email: jdmurphy@maine.edu
University of Maine at Machias
Tom Potter, Vice President for Admininstration and Finance
Phone: 207-255-1221
Email: potter@maine.edu
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Charlie Bonin, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Phone: 207-768-9550
Email: charlie.bonin@umpi.edu
Rachel Rice, Director of Community and Media Relations
Phone: 207-768-9452
Email: rachel.rice@umpi.edu
University of Southern Maine
Bob Caswell, Executive Director of Public Affairs
Phone: 207-780-4200
Email: caswell@usm.maine.edu
University of Maine System
Media, Legislative, and Other Requests
Peggy Markson, Public Relations Manager
Phone: 207-973-3245
Email: peggy.markson@maine.edu
Finances and Procurement
Kevin Carr, Director of Strategic Procurement
Phone: 207-973-3307
Email: kevin.carr@maine.edu
Human Resources
Tracy Bigney, Chief Human Resources and Organizaitonal Development Officer
Phone: 207-973-3234
Email: bigney@maine.edu
Facilities
Chip Gavin, Director of Facilities Management and General Services
Phone: 207-973-3335
Email: chip.gavin@maine.edu