David Adamson v. Northampton, City of - Housing Authority (SPR 20160588)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division

Shawn A. Williams

Supervisor of Records August 17, 2016 SPR16/588

Ms. Cara Clifford

Executive Director Northampton Housing Authority 49 Old South Street, Suite 1 Northampton, MA 01060

Dear Ms. Clifford:

I have received the petition of David Adamson appealing the response of the Northampton Housing 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. Adamson requested copies of cell phone records for certain members of the Authority’s staff for a specific time period. The Authority provided a written response with a fee estimate and Mr. Adamson appealed.

In an August 16, 2016 telephone conversation you explained to me that it is possible that, even if unredacted, the cell phone records may not provide the information that Mr. Adamson seeks in his request. I find the Authority must review Mr. Adamson’s request and provide to him a revised written response.

This revised written response to Mr. Adamson must state whether the Authority possesses the information it believes responsive to his request. In this written response the Authority must use its superior knowledge of Authority records to determine whether either the cell phone records or any other Authority record or records contain responsive information. The Authority is strongly encouraged to engage Mr. Adamson directly to confirm whether the Authority’s inference regarding his request is consistent with Mr. Adamson’s request. 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. | n VA illiams

pervisor of Records

cc: Mr. David Adamson

One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 - (617) 727-2832 - Fax (617) 727-5914

www.sec.state.ma.us/ pre