Stephen J. Morgan v. Ashland, Town of - Town Manager (SPR 20160597)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords August 19,2016 SPR16/597 Jennifer Ball Town of Ashland Town Manager's Office Assistant Town Manager 101 Main Street Ashland, MA 01727 Dear Ms. Ball: I have received the petition of Mr. Stephen Morgan appealing the nomesponse of the Town of Ashland (Town) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § lO(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Morgan requested copies of the minutes for specified meetings of the Charter Review Committee, any documents used in those meetings, as well as "any document authorizing the charter review committee to continue having meetings past its 9 month deadline to produce its report to selectmen as provided for in the town charter." Having received no response, Mr. Morgan 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, dated August 19, 2016. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Town's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Morgan may appeal the substantive nature of the Town's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R 32.08(2). n A. Williams cc: Mr. Stephen Morgan OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre