Kenneth A. Grace, Esq. v. Brookline, Town of (SPR 20180929)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records July 9,201 8 SPR181929 Patrick J. Ward Town Clerk Brookline Town Hall 333 Washington Street, Room 104 Brookline, MA 02445-6853 Dear Mr. Ward: I have received the petition of Kenneth Grace, Esq., submitted on behalf of Paul Trahon of the Brookline Firefighters Association, appealing the response of the Town of Brookline (Town) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, 5 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Mr. Trahon requested various categories of records related to the vacancy of the Town Fire Chief. Having yet to receive records, Attorney Grace appealed. Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulations (Regulations) all requests for public records must be met with a response within ten business days of receipt of the request. G. L. c. 66, 5 10(a)-(b). The response may contain, among other things, an offer to provide records, a fee estimate for provision of the records, or a denial. G. L. c. 66, 5 10(b). 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 the Public Records Division, this office was notified that a response was provided on July 9,2018 that included responsive records. Whereas this matter was opened based upon Attorney Grace not receiving records, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Attorney Grace may appeal the substantive nature of the Town's response within 90 days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Kenneth A. Grace, 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