Hazem Mahmoud, MD, PhD v. Newburyport, City of - Mayor's Office (SPR 20160485)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords July 14, 2016 SPR16/485 Ms. Jackie Cowin, Esq. KP Law, P.C. 101 Arch Street Boston, MA 02110 Dear Attorney Cowin: I have received the petition of Hazem Mahmoud appealing the response of City of Newburyport (City) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § lO(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, on April 23, 2016 Mr. Mahmoud requested copies of City records containing the names "Hazem Mahmoud or Pamela Mahmoud, or the address 52 Ferry Road, or 52A Ferry Road, or 52B Ferry Road Newburyport, MA." The basis of Mr. Mahmoud's petition is that he has not received a substantive response to his request from the City. 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. The City 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 will be provided. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the City's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Mahmoud may appeal the substantive nature of the City's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Supervisor of Records cc: Mr. Hazem Mahmoud Mr. Richard Burke Jones, City Clerk OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre