Andrea Estes v. Department of Veteran Services (SPR 20210532)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records March 17, 2021 SPR21/0532 Matthew Deacon, Esq. General Counsel Department of Veterans Services 600 Washington Street, 7th Floor Boston MA 02111 Dear Attorney Deacon: I have received the petition of Andrea Estes of The Boston Globe appealing the response of the Department of Veterans Services (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On February 2, 2021, Ms. Estes requested, “all emails received by or sent by [the] former Veterans Services Secretary on March 27, 2020.” The Department provided a response to the request on February 24, 2021. Unsatisfied with the Department’s response, Ms. Estes petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR21/0532 was opened as a result. Subsequent to the opening of this appeal, in an email correspondence on March 16, 2021, a representative of the Department informed this office that the Department intends on providing Ms. Estes with a supplemental response. Conclusion Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Ms. Estes with said response, in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Ms. Estes may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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

Matthew Deacon, Esq. SPR21/0532 Page 2 March 17, 2021 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Andrea Estes