Colman Herman v. Boston, City of - Mayor's Office (SPR 20160013)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor of& cords January 22, 2016 SPR16/013 Ms. Bonnie McGilpin Press Secretary Office of Mayor Martin J. Walsh One City Hall Square, Suite 500 Boston, MA 02201 Dear Ms. McGilpin: I have received the petition of Colman Herman appealing the nonresponse ofthe City of Boston- Office of the Mayor (Office) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, on November 29, 2015, Mr. Herman requested copies of records related to payments made to the City of Boston (City) by a campaign for the use of Faneuil Hall. The Office provided one responsive record and indicated the remaining records would be forthcoming. Having yet to receive the remaining responsive records, Mr. Herman appealed to 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, § 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 responses were provided on January 13, 2016 and January 21, 2016. In addition, I understand the Office intends to provide Mr. Herman with the remaining responsive invoices. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Office's failure to provide a written response and the Office intends to provide remaining responsive records, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed with the proviso that, within ten (1 0) days, the Office provides Mr. Herman with the remaining responsive records. Mr. Herman may appeal the substantive nature of the Office's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832. Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma.us/pre

Ms. Bonnie McGilpin SPR16/013 Page 2 January 22, 2016 To assist the Office in responding to requests for public records I have enclosed a copy of our publication, A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This document is also available on the Internet, free of charge, at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/prepdf/guide.pdf. Attorneys and other members of my staff are available during regular business hours to answer general questions regarding the Public Records Law. In addition, members of my staff will visit a records custodian in person to conduct training workshops on the Public Records Law upon request. Pleas!' contact my office directly at the telephone number provided in this determination for further i fOrmation. VeQlJ,; o s, A%limru Enclosure cc: Mr. Colman Herman