A. The head of any municipal department, commission, bureau or board may have any or all records kept by the official, department, commission, bureau or board photographed, microphotographed, photostated, reproduced on film or stored on optical disk. Such film or reproducing material shall be of durable material and the device used to reproduce such records on film or other material shall be such as to accurately reproduce and perpetuate the original records in all details.

B. The photostatic copy, photograph, microphotograph, photographic film or optical disk of the original records shall be deemed to be an original record for all purposes, and shall be admissible in evidence in all courts or administrative agencies. A facsimile, exemplification or certified copy thereof shall, for all purposes recited herein, be deemed to be a transcript, exemplification or certified copy of the original.

C. Whenever photostatic copies, photographs, microphotographs, reproductions on films or optical disks shall be placed in conveniently accessible files and provisions made for preserving, examining and using same, the head of any municipal department, commission, bureau or board may certify those facts to the municipal governing body. Following such certification, the governing body may, by ordinance or resolution, authorize the disposal, archival storage or destruction of the original records and papers before the expiration of the retention period established pursuant to Section 22-131 of this title.

Added by Laws 1977, c. 256, § 22-132, eff. July 1, 1978. Amended by Laws 1990, c. 50, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1990; Laws 1998, c. 234, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.