Colman Herman v. University of Massachusetts Building Authority (SPR 20160129)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords March 10, 2016 SPR16/129 Mr. DeWayne Lehman University of Massachusetts Building Authority One Beacon Street, 31st Floor Boston, MA 02108 Dear Mr. Lehman: I have received the petition of Colman Herman appealing the nonresponse of the University of Massachusetts Building Authority (Authority) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Herman requested records regarding a public-private partnership of a specifically identified complex. Having received no response, Mr. Herman 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, § lO(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. 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 March 9, 2016. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Authority's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Herman may appeal the substantive nature of the Authority's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). To assist in requesting and responding to requests for public records please refer to our publication, A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This document is 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. OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma.us/pre

Mr. De Wayne Lehman SPR16!129 Page 2 March 10,2016 In addition, members of my staff will visit a records custodian in person to conduct training workshops on the Public Records Law upon request. lease contact my office directly at the telephone number provided in this determination fu he information. cc: Mr. Colman Herman