Sidney R. Harris v. Methuen, City of - Office of the City Solicitor (SPR 20220573)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records March 16, 2022 SPR22/0573 Kenneth Rossetti, Esq. City Solicitor City of Methuen 41 Pleasant Street Room 311, Searles Building Methuen, MA 01844 Dear Attorney Rossetti: I have received the petition of Sidney Harris appealing the response of the City of Methuen (City) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On February 2, 2022, Mr. Harris requested “. . . the Minutes and/or recording of the City Council executive session of June 10, 2021.” The City provided a response on February 17, 2022, denying access to the responsive records under the attorney-client privilege. Unsatisfied with the City’s response, Mr. Harris petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR22/0573, was opened as a result. This request is identical to a request which was the subject of a previous appeal. See SPR21/1618 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (July 15, 2021). Please refer to the determination in SPR21/1618 for analysis of this issue. It is my understanding that the City provided a supplemental response on March 15, 2022. Accordingly, I will consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Harris may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s March 15th response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Sidney Harris 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