Lysander officials passed a local law allowing the town to appoint the FOIL officer and appeals officer on an annual basis. The former law, which named the clerk as the FOIL officer and the supervisor as the appeals officer, was outdated, officials said.

A public hearing regarding the issue was held Monday, Aug. 27. Resident Kit Thompson sent a letter to the board, which was read into the town minutes, stating that the town clerk should be the records management officer especially considering the duties are already being paid for through the clerk’s salary.

Other residents were concerned about access to the appointed officer should they need to FOIL a document and any associated costs for making the officer an annual appointment.

Resident Chris Patrick said the school board appoints a record officer every year and the change isn’t a big deal.

Supervisor John Salisbury said the law was only changing the positions from stated to appointed and those appointments would be made on an annual basis by the town board.