Stanley Mazurczyk v. Chelmsford, Town of - Chief Assessor (SPR 20201244)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records August 3, 2020 SPR20/1244 Frank Reen Chief Assessor Chelmsford Town Offices Assessor’s Office 50 Billerica Rd Chelmsford, MA 01824 Dear Frank Reen: I have received the petition of Stanley Mazurczyk appealing the nonresponse of the Town of Chelmsford Assessor’s Office (Office) to request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Mr. Mazurczyk submitted a request for the “updated property record cards of 9 properties” within the possession of the Office. Claiming to not yet have received a response, Mr. Mazurczyk petitioned this office and this appeal was opened as a result. The Public Records Law The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all governmental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A(d); 950 C.M.R. 32.03(4). “Public records” is broadly defined to include all documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee of any town of the Commonwealth, unless falling within a statutory exemption. G. L. c. 4 § 7(26). It is the burden of the records custodian to demonstrate the application of an exemption in order to withhold a requested record. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(iv); 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3); see also Dist. Attorney for the Norfolk Dist. v. Flatley, 419 Mass. 507, 511 (1995) (custodian has the burden of establishing the applicability of an exemption). To meet the specificity requirement a custodian must not only cite an exemption, but must also state why the exemption applies to the withheld or redacted portion of the responsive record. If there are any fees associated with a response a written, good faith estimate must be provided. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(viii); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2). Once fees are paid, a records custodian must provide the responsive records. 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

Frank Reen SPR20/1244 Page 2 August 3, 2020 Order Subsequent to the intervention by a staff member of the Public Records Division, this office was notified that a response was provided, dated July 27, 2020. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Office’s lack of a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed Mr. Mazurczyk may appeal the substantive nature of the Office’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Stanley Mazurczyk