Christiana Borough is requiring individuals to pay to obtain certain information from the municipality, located in southeastern Lancaster County.
The policy, formalized by resolution on March 2, says that if the borough needs to consult an outside expert to answer a question from the public, the requestor must provide billing information in advance so that any associated cost can be passed on.
Open government advocates say the practice is concerning, as it could amount to billing taxpayers for information their elected representatives already paid for.
But Carol Pringle, the outgoing borough manager, said the policy was drafted to apply to people who inquire about property development issues, such as sewer or storm water regulations. Those inquires, she said, sometimes require input from professional engineers or solicitors who bill the borough for their services.