Under Maryland State Law, all political subdivisions, including municipalities, are required to establish and maintain a public records program and share certain records with the Maryland State Archives. Many cities and towns, however, have yet to meet these requirements. Among these are the need to have an approved records retention schedule and identification of a municipal records officer for State Archives reference. If you're uncertain whether your municipality is up to date, contact Kathryn Baringer, Director of Appraisal and Description with the Maryland State Archives at kathryn.baringer@maryland.gov.
The Records Management Division at the Maryland State Archives is an immensely helpful resource for Maryland local governments in general. Those of particular relevance to municipalities are:
· What is a public record?
· Records Retention Schedules
· Record Officer Guidance