Shapiro, Claudia v. Great Barrington Building Inspector (SPR 20150130)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords March 25, 2015 SPRlS/130 Ms. Carolyn Wichmann Town of Great Barrington 334 Main Street Great Barrington, MA 01230 Dear Ms. Wichmann: I have received the petition of Claudia Shapiro appealing the nonresponse of the Town of Great Barrington (Town) to her request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Ms .. Shapiro requested permits and site plans for a specifically identified building. Having received no response, Ms. Shapiro 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 (1 0) days of the request. G. L. c. 66, § lO(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, this office was notified that an identical request was made by Mr. Daniel Bell and a response was provided, dated January 5, 2015. Mr. Bell and Ms. Shapiro share the same address. In prior appeals by Ms. Shapiro and Mr. Bell similar if not identical requests are made to the Town by both parties. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Town's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Shapiro may appeal the substantive nature ofthe Town's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 2. (2). urs, Supervisor of Records cc: Ms. Claudia Shapiro Mr. Daniel Bell OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108. (617) 727-2832. Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma.us/pre