Robert E. Whalen v. Reading, Town of - Contributory Retirement Board (SPR 20212187)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records September 7, 2021 SPR21/2187 Colleen Loughlin Retirement Administrator Town of Reading 2 Haven Street Reading, MA 01867 Dear Ms. Loughlin: I have received the petition of Robert E. Whalen of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, appealing the response of the Town of Reading (Town) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On May 19, 202, Mr. Whalen requested, “[c]opies of the names and addresses, in any and all forms, of all members of the Reading Retirement Board, still living, who retired as employees of the Reading Public School system.” On May 27, 2021, the Town provided a response. Unsatisfied with the Town’s response, Mr. Whalen petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR21/2187, was opened as a result. Current Petition In his petition dated August 26, 2021, Mr. Whalen petitioned this office to appeal the Town’s May 27, 2021 response. The Public Records Access Regulations, which govern the procedural aspects of all appeals, require that an appeal to this office be filed within ninety calendar days of the date of the request letter, or within ninety calendar days of the date of a written response from the record custodian. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1)(d); 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1)(e). The petition is requesting the appeal of the Department’s May 27, 2021 response, which exceeds the ninety day limit. Mr. Whalen may make a new request to the Town for the same information. The Town would then have ten business days in which to respond to your new request. G. L. c. 66, § l0(a)- (b). If the Town denies your request or fails to respond within ten business days, you may appeal to this office within the above timeframe. At that time this office will review the matter. 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

Colleen Loughlin SPR21/2187 Page 2 September 7, 2021 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Robert E. Whalen