Keaney, Brian v. Boston, City of - Mayor's Office (SPR 20150744)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords November 30, 2015 SPRlS/744 Ms. Caroline Driscoll, Esq. City of Boston Law Department City Hall, Room 615 Boston, MA 0221 0 Dear Attorney Driscoll: I have received the petition of Brian Keaney appealing the response of the City of Boston Mayor's Office (City) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Keaney requested "[a]ll text messages (SMS and MMS) sent between Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin Walsh in the last three months." The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all governmental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4). "Public records" is broadly defined to include all documentary materials or data, regardless ofp hysical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee of any town of the Commonwealth, unless falling within a statutory exemption. G. L. c. 4, § 7(26). In your response dated September 10, 2015 you state that "[t]he City has reviewed your request and found that there are no text messages on the Mayor's phone that are responsive to your request." You confirmed this is a telephone conversation with a member of my staff. You also informed my staff member that the City is currently making an effort to ensure that the public has access to these records in the future regardless of format and/or device in accordance with the Public Records Law. Whereas the City has confirmed it has no records responsive to Mr. Keaney's request, I will consider this administrative appeal closed. OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma.us/pre

Ms. Caroline Driscoll, Esq. SPR151744 Page Two November 30, 2015 cc: Mr. Brian Keaney