Brown, Todd v. Natick, Town of (SPR 20140589)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams November 3, 2014 Supervisor ofR ecords SPR14/589 Ms. Diane Packer Town Clerk Town ofNatick 13 East Central Street Natick, MA 01760 Dear Ms. Packer: I have received the petition of Todd Brown appealing the nonresponse of the Town of Natick (Town) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Brown, on behalf of the Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association, requested copies of records related to "prescription benefits fulfillment." Having received no response, Mr. Brown petitioned this office. Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulations (Regulations) all requests for public records must be met with a response within ten (10) days of the 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. The town is advised that all records custodians must comply with both the Public Records Law and the Regulations with respect to the timeliness of response. Subsequent to the intervention by a member of my staff, Martha L. White, Natick Town Administrator, provided a written response to the request. In her letter, Ms. White apologized for the delay in her response, further explaining the Town purchases health benefits through the West Suburban Health Group (WSHG) and the documents Mr. Brown is requesting are in the custody of the WSHG. Ms. White further states that she's bee informed the WSHG responded to his public records request and that the Town has no addition documents. Whereas the Town has provided a written response, made in compliance with the /lb lic Records Law and its Regulations, I will consider this administrative appeal cl e .. / er ~urs, 1 awn 7Jlliruns A Supervisor ofRecords cc: Mr. Todd Brown OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/pre