Cohn, Jonathan v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority - Office of the General Counsel (SPR 20150672)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords November 16, 2015 SPRlS/672 Ms. Maryellen Lyons, Esq. Massachusetts Department of Transportation Ten Park Plaza, Suite 3510 Boston, MA 02116 Dear Attorney Lyons: I have received the petition of Jonathan Cohn appealing the nomesponse of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Department) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Cohn requested all electronic communications from a former, specifically identified employee. Having received no response, Mr. Cohn 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, § IO(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 August 11, 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. Mr. Cohn may appeal the substantive nature of the Department's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). cc: Mr. Jonathan Cohn OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre