Keith Eddings v. Lawrence, City of - Legal Department (SPR 20160078)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords February 25, 2016 SPR16/078 Ms. Donna Cole Payroll Director City of Lawrence Lawrence City Hall 200 Common Street Lawrence, MA 01840 Dear Ms. Cole: I have received the petition of Keith Eddings, on behalf of The Eagle Tribune, appealing the nonresponse of the City of Lawrence (City) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1 O(b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Eddings requested to view records indicating the names, job titles and annual salaries of all employees who have received stipends since January 1, 2014 and to view records indicating the amount of the stipends. Despite our letter to you dated February 5, 2016 acknowledging the opening ofthis appeal and communication with a member of my staff, no response has been provided. 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 of physical 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). It is the burden of the records custodian to demonstrate the application of an exemption in order to withhold a requested record. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); see also District Attorney for the Norfolk Dist. v. Flatley, 419 Mass. 507, 511 (1995) (custodian has the burden of establishing the applicability of an exemption). I find the City has failed to respond to a request for public records. Accordingly, the City is hereby ordered, within ten (1 0) days of this order, to provide Mr. Eddings with a response to the request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations. If the City maintains that any portion of the responsive records are exempt from disclosure it must, within ten (1 0) days provide to Mr. Eddings a written explanation, with OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/pre

Ms. Donna Cole SPR16/078 Page 2 February 25, 2016 specificity, how a particular exemption applies to each record. To meet the specificity requirement a custodian must not only cite an exemption, but must also state why the exemption applies to the withheld or redacted portion of the responsive record. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. If there are any fees associated with this response a written, good faith estimate must be provided. G. L. c. 66, § 10(a); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.06(2) (where cost of complying with a request for public records is expected to exceed ten dollars ($10.00), custodian of records shall provide written good faith estimate). Once the fees are paid, you must provide the responsive records. To assist the City 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 on 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. Please contact my office directly at the telephone number provided · this determination for further information. Enclosure cc: Mr. Keith Eddings