Stephen J. Morgan v. Ashland, Town of - Office of the Town Clerk (SPR 20170748)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records June 2, 2017 SPR17/748 Tara Ward Ashland Town Clerk Town of Ashland 101 Main Street Ashland, MA O1 721 Dear Ms. Ward: I have received the petition of Stephen Morgan appealing the response of the Ashland Town Clerk's Office (Town) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1 OA; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Mr. Morgan requested "copies of Minutes and listed document[s] for the ARA meetings" from identified dates. Unsatisfied with the Town's response, Mr. Morgan petitioned this office. Subsequent to the intervention by a staff member of the Public Records Division, I learned that the Town responded to Mr. Morgan's request with a response sent on May 19, 2017 in which they provided all of the requested documents in their possession. In accordance with the Public Records Law, records custodians are expected to use their superior knowledge of the records in their custody to assist the requester in obtaining the desired information. As such, I find that the Town has satisfied their burden in providing a substantive response. Accordingly, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Sincerely, ~~ Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Stephen J. Morgan 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