Peggy L. Chaput v. Hull, Town of - Town Clerk (SPR 20212944)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records November 22, 2021 SPR21/2944 Ms. Lori West Town Clerk Town of Hull 253 Atlantic Avenue Hull, MA 02045 Dear Ms. West: I have received the petition of Peggy Chaput appealing the nonresponse of the Town of Hull (Town) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On October 13, 2021, Ms. Chaput requested, “[a]ll permit records, including tax certifications, inclusive of the last year and a half for [identified property].” Claiming to not yet have received a response Ms. Chaput petitioned this office, and this appeal, SPR21/2944, was opened as a result. Under the Public Records Law and its Regulations, all requests for public records must be met with a response within 10 business days from receipt of the request. G. L. c. 66, § 10(a)- (b). The response may contain, among other things, an offer to provide records, a fee estimate for provision of the records, or a denial. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b). All records custodians must comply with both the Public Records Law and the Regulations with respect to the timeliness of response. I have subsequently learned that the Town responded to Ms. Chaput’s request on November 15, 2021. Where this matter was opened based upon the Town’s lack of a written response, I will now consider this appeal closed. Ms. Chaput may appeal the Town’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Peggy Chaput 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