Mary Dormer v. Carver, Town of - Town Clerk (SPR 20210367)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records March 1, 2021 SPR21/0367 Cara Dahill Town Clerk Town of Carver 108 Main Street Carver, MA 01773 Dear Ms. Dahill: I have received the petition of Mary Dormer appealing the response of the Town of Carver (Town) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On February 8, 2021, Ms. Dormer requested “…information regarding the number of freezers at the COA, an inventory of food, receipts for food, all financial information for the COA, including any donations and subsidiaries provided by the Friends of Carver from 2013 to the present. Provide a full accounting of all monies received and spent from 2013 to the present. Provide a job description for the person or persons who provide outreach, actives coordinator, food services, meals on wheels or any other outreach program for the senior population of the Town of Carver.” Previous Appeal The request was the subject of a previous appeal. See SPR21/0340 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (February 19, 2021). The appeal was closed after the Town provided multiple responses to Ms. Dormer. Unsatisfied with a response provided by the Town on February 11, 2021, Ms. Dormer petitioned this office, and SPR21/0367 was opened as a result. Current Appeal In the its February 11th response, the Town indicates “IT doesn't have access to town financial records.” In her appeal, Ms. Dormer states, “…the information I seek from 2013 is being denied to me because the ‘server failed’ and that the data is no longer available.” It is my understanding a staff attorney of the Public Records Division had a conversation 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

Cara Dahill SPR21/0367 Page 2 March 1, 2021 with the Town, and the Town indicated it was not denying access to financial records. The Town explained 2013 financial records are not electronic, but are paper records stored in boxes. The Town also reiterated that it intends on providing Ms. Dormer with all records responsive to her request, and that portions of her request have been fulfilled. Subsequent to the opening of this appeal, the Town provided multiple responses to Ms. Dormer. Conclusion In light of the above, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Mary Dormer