Jim Haddadin v. Executive Office of Health & Human Services (SPR 20210531)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records March 9, 2021 SPR21/0531 Patricia M. Scanlan Primary Records Access Officer Executive Office of Health and Human Services One Ashburton Place, Room 1109 Boston, MA 02108 Dear Ms. Scanlan: I have received the petition of Jim Haddadin of NBC10 Boston appealing the nonresponse of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On February 1, 2021, Mr. Haddadin requested “all electronic mail messages sent or received by employees of [EOHHS] during [a certain time period] that pertain to the detection of, and/or response to, the first case of COVID-19 in Massachusetts.” On February 17, 2021, EOHHS responded, stating it would provide responsive records “as soon as practicable.” Having received no further response, Mr. Haddadin appealed and SPR21/0531 was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that a representative from EOHHS intends to provide a written response to Mr. Haddadin. In an email to this office on March 9, 2021, EOHHS confirmed that it “plans to provide a complete response to this public records request.” Accordingly, EOHHS is ordered to provide Mr. Haddadin with a response in accordance with the Public Records Law, its Access Regulations and this order within ten business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Haddadin may appeal the substantive nature of the response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Jim Haddadin 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