The Lancaster Township board of supervisors Wednesday ratified the decision to appeal to the Butler County Court of Common Pleas and state Office of Open Records determination granting the Butler Eagle access to records requested under the Right to Know Law.

The vote, made more than five weeks after the township filed its appeal Feb. 26, formally ratifies a previous action taken by the board in an executive session between its Feb. 15 and March 15 meetings.

The township's appeal seeks to overturn the Office of Open Records' determination that the township must provide records related to current and former township employees, including former township manager Benjamin Kramer.

In the determination, the office stated the township failed to provide sufficient evidence that it was legally permitted to withhold the records.

The township asks the court to review the records sought in the request and make a determination based on the text of the records themselves.

“Our view is that we're in a spot between two competing rights: There's a right for employees to have certain documents and records kept confidential, and there's rights as described in the Right to Know (Law),” township solicitor Chris Reese said, adding there are provisions allowing agencies such as the township to withhold certain employee-related records. “In our view, where things stand right now is we want a judge to look at these disputed documents and make a decision.”