Shaffer, Maya v. Salem, City of - Police Department (SPR 20150281)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords May 19,2015 SPRlS/281 Ms. Sharyn G. Lubas, Esq. Salem Police Department 95 Margin Street Salem, MA 01970 Dear Attorney Lubas: I have received the petition of Maya Shaffer, of the Bay State Examiner appealing the nonresponse of the Salem Police Department (Department) to her request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Ms. Shaffer requested records regarding a specifically identified incident. Having received no response, Ms. Shaffer 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, § 1O (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 Department 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 a response was provided, dated May 5, 2015. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Department's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Shaffer may appeal the substantive nature ofthe Department's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Supervisor of Records cc: Ms. Maya Shaffer OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832. Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre