Benjamin Douglas v. Lynn, City of - Public Schools (SPR 20201250)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records July 29, 2020 SPR20/1250 Charles N. Gallo, J.D. Compliance Officer Lynn Public Schools 100 Bennett Street Lynn, MA 01905 781-477-7220 Ext. 3177 Dear Attorney Gallo: I have received the petition of Ben Douglas appealing the nonresponse of the Lynn Public Schools (School) to request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Ben Douglas submitted a request for the “Lynn School Agendas and Minutes of the School Council Meetings between April 2019 and July 2020.” Claiming to not yet have received a response, Ben Douglas 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

Charles N. Gallo SPR20/1250 Page 2 July 29, 2020 Order Subsequent to the intervention by a member of the Public Records Division, this office was notified that a response was provided, dated July 6, 2020. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the School’s lack of a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ben Douglas may appeal the substantive nature of the School’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Ben Douglas