Harry Mattison v. Massachusetts Department of Transportation (SPR 20200116)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records January 31, 2020 SPR20/116 William J. Doyle, Esq. Massachusetts Department of Transportation 10 Park Plaza, Suite 3 810 Boston, MA 02116 Dear Attorney Doyle: I have received the petition of Harry Mattison appealing the nonresponse of the Massachusetts Department of Transp01iation (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § lOA; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Mr. Mattison requested records for an identified Department project. Having received no response, Mr. Mattison petitioned this office and an appeal was opened. 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, § IO(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, § IO(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 opening of this appeal, on January 23, 2020, the Department notified Mr. Mattison that it sought clarification or assistance in the modification of the scope of his request to more efficiently or affordably accommodate him. Mr. Mattison amended his request on January 23, 2020. The Department notified Mr. Mattison on January 31, 2020 that the records for his modified request were being compiled and expected to be received by the Department on February 5, 2020 and. Once received, the records would be provided to Mr. Mattison. In light of the above communications, I will consider this administrative appeal closed. If issues remain unresolved, Mr. Mattison may appeal to our office. 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

William J. Doyle, Esq. SPR20/116 Page 2 January 31, 2020 Sincerely, ~~ Rebecca S. Munay Supervisor of Records cc: Harry Mattison