Christine A. Bostek v. Plymouth, Town of - Community Preservation Committee (SPR 20160039)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords February 18, 2016 SPR16/039 Ms. Melissa Arrighi Town Manager Town of Plymouth Community Preservation Committee 11 Lincoln Street Plymouth, MA 02360 Dear Ms. Arrighi: I have received the petition of Christine Bostek appealing the response of the Town of Plymouth (Town)-Community Preservation Committee (Committee) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Ms. Bostek requested ten (1 0) categories of records related to a specifically identified piece of property. Initially, a response was provided by Committee Chair William Keohan providing Ms. Bostek with the responsive records in the Committee's possession and directing her to the Custodian that may have the additional records that Ms. Bostek sought. Ultimately, the Committee sought the advice of Ms. Kathleen O'Donnell, Esq., counsel for the Committee. Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulations (Regulations) '':11 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 Committee 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 February 5, 2016. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Committee's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Bostek may appeal the substantive nature of the Committee's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). To assist the Town and the Committee in responding to requests for public records I have enclosed a copy of our publication, A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/pre

Ms. Melissa Arrighi SPR16/039 Page 2 February 18, 2016 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. It is strongly suggested that you take advantage of this opportunity for a training and please contact my office directly at the telephone number provided in this determination for fu er infor ation. ! ours, Enclosure cc: Ms. Christine Bostek