E-mail Policy Proposals for Austin Board and Commission Members

In response to the Austin City Council’s resolution for new internal e-mail policies adopted April 7, 2011, City Clerk Shirley Gentry sent this e-mail to Austin City Council members on May 16, 2011. The e-mail offers three proposals for consideration regarding what new policy would govern how e-mails about city business sent to or received by members of designated (“sovereign”) boards and commissions would be incorporated into the city’s records retention system for compliance with the Texas Public Information Act. Gentry recommended the option requiring board and commission members to forward such e-mails to the liasion of their board or commission, who would be the custodian of those records.