Rebecca M. Thibault, Esq. v. Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (SPR 20170711)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor ofR ecords June 2, 2017 SPRl 7/711 Kate Belsky Records Access Officer Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District 621 Main Street Wilbraham, MA O1 095 Dear Ms. Belsky: I have received the petition of Attorney Rebecca Thibault of Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbwy and Murphy, PC appealing the response of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (School) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1 ). Specifically, Attorney Thibault requested copies of several categories of records pertaining to minutes and decisions made by the local School Committee (Committee). In its May 15, 2017 response, the School denied the request pursuant to the Open Meeting Law as it operates through Exemption (a) of the Public Records Law. See G. L. c. 30A, §§ 22(f), 21(a)(l); G. L. c. 4, § 7(26)(a). Attorney Thibault appealed this response. Open Meeting Law The School claims that "the publication of the Executive Session minutes and associated documents at this time would defeat the lawful purposes of the Executive Session." G. L. c. 30A, §§ 21(a)(l), 22(f). The nature of Attorney Thibault's request and the content of the provided responses raise issues that invoke the Open Meeting Law. Given that an interpretation of the Open Meeting Law falls within the authority of the Office of the Attorney General (AGO) and not this office, I decline to provide a determination as to the status of the executive session minutes. See G.L. c. 30A, §23. It is recommended that you contact the AGO should you seek a determination on this issue. Sincerely, ~~ Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Rebecca M. Thibault, Esq. Jonathan Sclarsic, Esq. One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us