Joyce Rowley v. New Bedford, City of - Clerk's Office (SPR 20221504)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records July 14, 2022 SPR22/1504 Dennis Farias City of New Bedford 133 William Street, Room 118 New Bedford, MA 02740 Dear Mr. Farias: I have received the petition of Joyce Rowley appealing the response of the City of New Bedford (City) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On May 29, 2022, Ms. Rowley requested the following records “. . . for the period May 10, 2022, to the time of fulfillment[:]” 1. Clinical records for Asian elephants Ruth & Emily; 2. Laboratory results and/or reports for bloodwork, cultures, or other tests performed on Asian elephants Ruth and Emily; 3. Keeper/Daily logs; 4. The current Asian elephants’ weights; 5. Radiographs, if any, for Ruth and Emily performed since February 19, and any reports or readings by a DACVR of same. 6. Asian elephant consultant reports, assessments or videos. 7. Quality of Life (QOL) Assessments and meeting minutes of QOL meetings for Asian elephant Ruth and Emily. Please provide meeting minutes for the QOLAs as well. Please include documents relating to necropsy preparations; 8. Zoo transactions including births, deaths, transfers, and information on the age, sex, and ID numbers of the specimens, as well as the name of the receiving/donating facility from the period beginning May 10, 2022 to the time of fulfillment. 9. Zoo staff resignations from the period January 1, 2022 to the time of fulfillment. The City provided a response on June 14, 2022 providing certain records and indicating it is not in possession of records responsive Items 5, 6, 7, and 9 of the request. Clamming to not have received all the responsive records, Ms. Rowley petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR22/1504, was opened as a result. 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

Dennis Farias SPR22/1504 Page 2 July 14, 2022 It is my understanding that the City has provided additional records responsive to this request as of July 12, 2022. Conclusion Accordingly, I will consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Rowley may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Joyce Rowley