Rousseau, John v. Montague, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20150936)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords January 5, 2016 SPRlS/936 Ms. Marsha Odle Town of Montague-Police Department 180 Turnpike Road Turner Falls, MA 01376 Dear Ms. Odle: I have received the petition of John Rousseau appealing the nonresponse of the Town of Montague-Police Department (Department) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Rousseau requested all records which do not appear on the "index list of reports" that was provided to him subsequent to a previous public records request. Having received no response, Mr. Rousseau 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 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 31, 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. Rousseau may appeal the substantive nature of the epartment' s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). cc: Mr. John Rousseau OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma.us/pre