Dennis Deeb v. Methuen, City of - City Clerk (SPR 20180957)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records July 5, 2018 SPRlS/957 Ms. Christine Touma-Conway Methuen, City of - City Clerk Searles Building, Room 112 41 Pleasant St Methuen, MA O1 844 Dear Ms. Touma-Conway: I have received the petition of Dennis Debbs appealing the response of the City of Methuen (City) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § lOA;see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Mr. Debbs requested a copy of "all the current and future negotiated Methuen Police Department employee (Patrolmen) union and supervisor (Captains, Sergeants, Lieutenants) union employment contracts as well as the employment contracts for the Chief and Deputy Chief' as well as "current and future negotiated Methuen Fire Department employee (Patrolmen) union and supervisor (Captains, Sergeants, Lieutenants) union employment contracts as well as the employment contracts for the Chief and Deputy Chief." Having received no response, Mr. Debbs 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 business days ofreceipt of the request. G. L. c. 66, § lO(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, § 1O (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 staff, this office was notified that a response was provided, dated July 2, 2018. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the City's lack of a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Debbs may appeal the substantive nature of the City's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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

Massachusetts Environmental Police SPR18/855 Page 2 June 21, 2018 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Dennis Debbs