Herman, Colman v. Office of the Governor - Legal Office (SPR 20140509)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords October 16, 2014 SPR14/509 Mr. Jamie Hoag, Esq. Office of the Governor State House, Room 271 Boston, MA 02133 Dear Deputy Chief Legal Counsel Hoag: I have received the petition of Colman M. Herman appealing the response of the Office ofthe Governor (Office) to his August 18,2014 request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Herman requested copies of records related to funds used for a trade mission to Mexico and Panama. Included with a September 5, 2014letter to Mr. Herman, you provided copies of records responsive to this request. Furthermore, you stated that the Office does not maintain copies ofback-up receipts related to this trade mission. In an October 1, 2014 email to an attorney on my staff, you confirmed that the Office did not withhold any records responsive to Mr. Herman's request, and possesses no other responsive records. This office will rely on your representation that copies of all responsive records have been provided to Mr. Herman. See Konover Mgt. Corp. v. Planning Bd. of Auburn, 32 Mass. App. Ct. 319, 326 (1992) (the strong presumption that a public official will perform honestly and impartially and will properly discharge the duties of his office in the public interest). Whereas the Office has provided copies of all records re nsive to Mr. Herman's request, this administrative appeal is now closed. cc: Mr. Colman M. Herman OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre