Gerard F. Mackin, Jr. v. Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth - Administrative Services Division (SPR 20200923)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records June 24, 2020 SPR20/0923 Valerie Connolly Records Access Officer Secretary of the Commonwealth Administrative Services Division One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108 Dear Ms. Connolly: I have received the petition of Gerard F. Mackin, Jr. appealing the response of the Administrative Services Division (Division) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, on June 10, 2020, Mr. Mackin requested “every determination made by the Supervisor of Documents since January 1, 2020 which mentions the Chawla decision.” The Division provided a response dated June 10, 2020 to Mr. Mackin including a link to a searchable website and instructions on how to access the requested determinations online at no charge. Unsatisfied with the response provided, Mr. Mackin petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR20/0923, was opened as a result. In accordance with the Public Records “[i]f the public record requested is available on a public website pursuant to subsection (b) of section 19 of this chapter, section 14C of chapter 7 or any other appropriately indexed and searchable public website, the records access officer may furnish the public record by providing reasonable assistance in locating the requested record on the public website.” G. L. c. 66, § 6A(d). Further, under the Public Records Law, the Division is not required to answer questions, do research or create documents. See G. L. c. 66, § 10(a); 32 Op. Atty Gen. 157, 165 (May 18, 1977). Given that the Division provided Mr. Mackin with reasonable assistance in locating the requested determinations on a public website, I will consider this appeal closed. 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

Ms. Valerie Connolly SPR20/0923 Page 2 June 24, 2020 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Mr. Gerard F. Mackin, Jr.