Dusty Christensen v. Executive Office of Health & Human Services - Holyoke Soldiers' Home (SPR 20200724)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records May 18, 2020 SPR20/0724 Mark Yankopoulous, Esq. Records Access Officer Executive Office of Health & Human Services Soldier’s Home in Holyoke 110 Cherry Street Holyoke, MA 01040 Dear Attorney Yankopoulous: I have received the petition of Dusty Christensen appealing the response of the Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, on April 16, 2020 Mr. Christensen requested “[a]ny and all plans created prior to March 15 by leadership at Holyoke Soldier’s Home…related to a possible outbreak of COVID-19 at the facility.” EOHHS responded on May 1, 2020, denying access to the rest of the responsive records pursuant to Exemption (f). Unsatisfied with EOHHS’s response, Mr. Christensen petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR20/0724, was opened as a result. Subsequent to the opening of the appeal, EOHHS provided a supplemental response on May 15, 2020. Whereas EOHHS has sent Mr. Christensen a supplemental response addressing his appeal, I will consider this appeal closed. Mr. Christensen may appeal the substantive nature of the May 15th response within 90 days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Dusty Christensen 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