Maine FOAA Essentials for Utility Leaders and Staff

This class provides utility leaders and staff with a practical overview of Maine’s Freedom of Access Act and related public records and open meetings requirements. Participants will learn how FOAA applies to daily utility operations, including records creation and retention, responding to public requests, and conducting meetings in compliance with the law. The course emphasizes risk reduction, transparency, and consistent practices that protect both the utility and its employees while meeting legal obligations.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this class, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the core requirements of Maine’s Freedom of Access Act, including what constitutes a public record and a public proceeding for water and wastewater utilities.
2. Apply FOAA requirements to real-world utility scenarios, such as handling records requests, email and text communications, executive sessions, and board or committee meetings.
3. Identify best practices to ensure compliance and reduce liability, including proper documentation, timelines for response, exemptions, and internal roles and responsibilities.

Class Fee: FREE (Sponsored by USEPA)

State Agency Approval: (Credits Pending)
Maine BLWSO: 2.0 TCHs for Water Operators
Maine DEP: 2.0 TCHs for Wastewater Operators

Speaker:

Brad Sawyer - Deputy Director, MRWA

Bradley is the Deputy Director and focuses on lobbying, communications, board training, and special projects, but can be found helping with any number of tasks throughout the day. He holds a BS from the University of Oregon in political science and has worked in the political sphere for roughly a decade. As the Assistant Secretary of the Senate in the 128th Legislature and the Business Manager for the Maine Bicentennial Commission Brad has effectively worked with members of both parties to accomplish their goals and improve the lives of Mainers.