Cathleen A. Godzik, M.D. v. Webster, Town of - Board of Selectmen (SPR 20160726)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords September 12, 2016 SPR16/726 Ms. Courtney M. Friedland Town of Webster Board of Selectmen 350 Main Street Webster, MA 01570 Dear Ms. Friedland: I have received the petition of Cathleen A. Godzik, MD appealing the nomesponse of the Webster Board of Selectman (Board) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, in an August 23, 2016 email request Dr. Godzik sought copies of"the Board of Selectmen's Bylaws." Having received no timely written response Dr. Godzik appealed. 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 ofthe request. G. L. c. 66, § lO(b); 950 C.M.R. 32.05. In her petition Dr. Godzik referred to a request three categories of records; however, her petition contained only a copy of the August 23 request for "a copy of the Board of Selectmen's Bylaws." Accordingly, this appeal relates only to this request. See 950 CMR 32.08(2). Subsequent to the intervention by a member of my staff, this office was notified that in an email dated September 8, 2016 the Town responded to Dr. Godzik's August 23 request, stating "[t]he Board of Selectmen do not have By-laws." Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Board's failure to provide a written response, and further whe eas the Town has provided a written response stating it has no responsive records, I will now onsider this administrative appeal closed. cc: Dr. Cathleen A. Godzik c/o Ms. Gail Arsenault OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre