Corbett, Suzanne v. Ashland, Town of - Office of the Town Clerk (SPR 20140394)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords October 6, 2014 SPR14/394 Mr. Duncan Colter Chair, Ashfield Board of Health 412 Main Street, PO Box 560 Ashfield, MA 01330 Dear Mr. Colter: I have received the petition of Suzanne Corbett appealing the response ofthe Town of Ashfield-Board of Health (Board) to her request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Ms. Corbett sought copies of public document requests made to the Board and its members for a specified period. You provided a response that was essentially a form letter acknowledging receipt of the request. Ms. Corbett appealed, as no further response was provided. In an effort to resolve the issues surrounding the lack of further response, my office spoke with the Town's Executive Administrator. While it was explained that the response would take some time, I was assured a response would be provided. To date this office has received no additional information from the Board or the Town. Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulations (Regulations) all requests for public records must be met with a response within ten (1 0) days ofthe request. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b); 950 C.M.R. 32.05. The response may be an offer to provide records, a fee estimate for provision of the records, or a denial. It is not sufficient to merely provide an acknowledgment without any additional information. Accordingly, the Board is hereby ordered, within ten (10) day of this order, to provide Ms. Corbett with the requested records, in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Access Regulations. While my office has personally provided training to the Town on the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I will provide with this order a copy of our publication A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre

Mr. Duncan Colter SPR14/394 Page Two October 6, 2014 If the Board maintains that any portion of the responsive records are exempt from disclosure it may, within thirty (30) days provide to Ms. Corbett and this office a written explanation, with specificity, how a particular exemption applies to each record. In the event a request for reconsideration is honored by this office an acknowledgment will be provided to all parties, followed by a written determination by this office, to be provided within fifteen (15) business days. Requests for reconsideration filed more than thirty (30) days after the date of this letter will not be considered. Supervisor of Records cc: Ms. Suzanne Corbett