Todd Wallack v. Human Resources Division (SPR 20220270)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records February 8, 2022 SPR22/0270 Michele M. Heffernan, Esq. Human Resources Division One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108 Dear Attorney Heffernan: I have received the petition of Todd Wallack of WBUR, Boston’s NPR News Station appealing the nonresponse of the Human Resources Division (Division) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On January 18, 2022, Mr. Wallack requested: “[c]opies of any forms that workers in the Executive Branch filled out requested religious or medical exemption for the COVID vaccination for the [E]xecutive [B]ranch, including the ruling whether that waiver was granted or rejected. Or alternatively, I would seek a database containing the same information in electronic form. Any statistics available on how people applied for exemptions and how many were granted.” Additionally, Mr. Wallack states, “I have no objection if you redact the names and other personally identifiable information from the forms or database.” After not receiving a response within ten business days, Mr. Wallack petitioned the Supervisor of Records, and this appeal was opened. Subsequently, I learned that a representative from the Division intends on providing a written response to Mr. Wallack. Accordingly, the Division is ordered to provide Mr. Wallack 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. Wallack may appeal the substantive nature of the District’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Todd Wallack, WBUR, Boston’s NPR News Station 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