Robert Bland v. Rockport, Town of (SPR 20221064)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records May 19, 2022 SPR22/1064 Patricia E. Brown, CMMC Town Clerk Town of Rockport Town Office Building, 34 Broadway Rockport, MA 01966 Dear Ms. Brown: I have received the petition of Robert Bland appealing the nonresponse of the Town of Rockport (Town) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On April 4, 2022, Mr. Bland requested, “…records showing the method used to establish two (2) private ways as public, including the following: [1] Records of statutory compliance according to G. L. c. 82, §§ 21-24[;] [2] Records of statutory compliance according to G. L. c. 84, § 23.” Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Mr. Bland petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR22/1064, was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it remains unclear whether the Town has provided a response. Accordingly, the Town is ordered to provide Mr. Bland with a response to his request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Access Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. Mr. Bland may appeal the substantive nature of the Town’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Robert Bland 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