S. Howey v. Attleboro, City of - Fire Department (SPR 20160592)

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

Shawn A. Williams

Supervisor of Records August 17, 2016 SPR16/592

Mr. Tim Birch, Deputy Chief

Chief of Emergency Medical Services Attleboro Fire Department

1476 West Street

Attleboro, MA 02703

Dear Deputy Chief Birch:

I have received the petition of S. Howey appealing the nonresponse of the Attleboro Fire Department (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.MLR. 32.08(2). Specifically, S. Howey requested all 911 calls, EMS reports, Calls for Service and all other documents relating to a specifically identified address for a specific time period. Having received no response, S. Howey 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, § 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. 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 by the Department to S. Howey seeking further details about her request. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Department’s failure to provide a written response, | will now consider this administrative appeal closed. S. Howey may appeal the

substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.MLR. 32.08(2).

ruly/vonrs, A. Williams Supervisor of Records

cc: S. Howey

One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 - (617) 727-2832 - Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma.us/pre