Danforth, James v. Office of the District Attorney - Essex District (SPR 20150554)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords October 16, 2015 SPR15/554 Mr. John T. Dawley, Esq. Office of the District Attorney-Essex District Ten Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 Dear Attorney Dawley: I have received the petition of James Danforth appealing the nonresponse of the Essex County District Attorney's Office (Office) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Dawley requested all records left by or taken by the Office and town departments regarding a specifically identified individual. Having received no response, Mr. Danforth 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 Office 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 October 7, 2015. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Office's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Danforth may appeal the substantive nature of the Office's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Supervisor of Records cc: Mr. James Danforth OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre