Groundwater District Implements Policy to Protect Confidential Personnel Information

Groundwater District Implements Policy to Protect Confidential Personnel Information

Coming up to speed with developing privacy laws and technology, directors of the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District are set to implement a policy to safeguard confidential information.

According to BCRAGD Attorney Richard Mosty, directors may review personnel documents not available to the public under the Texas Open Meetings Act. However, directors are subject to penalties under the Act if that information is made public or shared with someone not authorized to see the records.

General Manager Dave Mauk said he drafted a policy outlining when and where personnel records may be reviewed, stipulating access would be granted at any reasonable time during office hours. No copies will be permitted, nor will any confidential records be removed from the office.

Stating he felt the policy was created because of him, Director Ernie DeWinne clarified that he had previously downloaded a Quickbooks file onto a flashdrive to review budget numbers, but deleted it after he realized the file contained confidential information.

DeWinne, formerly the treasurer for the City of Bandera, asked if he could access the district’s computer to create a worksheet on the district’s budget. Mauk said the computer was password protected and open-ended access was not allowed, but that DeWinne could have a redacted file to work on.

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