Belskis, John v. Department of Housing & Community Development (SPR 20150896)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords December 22, 2015 SPRlS/896 Ms. Margaux LeClair Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300 Boston, MA 02114 Dear Custodian: I have received the petition of John Belskis appealing the nomesponse of the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development (Department) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Belskis inquired regarding the definition of "region" for purposes of the definition of "housing need" under the Department's regulations. Having received no response, Mr. Belskis 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 ofthe 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 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 December 18,2015. 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. Belskis may appeal the substantive nature of the Department's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). cc: Mr. John Belskis OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/pre