Jessica Jacobson v. Fitchburg, City of - City Clerk (SPR 20230218)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records February 21, 2023 SPR23/0218 Joanna Bilotta Records Access Officer City of Fitchburg 166 Boulder Drive Suite 108 Fitchburg, MA 01420 Dear Ms. Bilotta: I have received the petition of Ms. Jessica Jacobson appealing the nonresponse of the City of Fitchburg (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On January 13, 2023, Ms. Jacobson requested the following records: [1] Do public officials need to abide to their oath of office and follow city policies to be in compliance for the city’s public official insurance? [2] Please provide the updated insurance information and insurance company and the amount each or city official is insured for the City’s Public official insurance coverage. [3] Please provide any and all emails and messages including but limited to messaging, texts, that could be considered offensive, hateful or against the heterosexual flag raising, including but not limited to [named] Council members. [4] Please provide any emails regarding the flag to outside groups including but not limited to groups/organizations NOWOCO that were in opposition of the flag, including but not limited to [named] Council members. [5] Please include any emails or messages news stations including not limited to reporters, journalist and bloggers from public officials regarding the flag, including but not limited to [named] Council members. [6] Please include any emails from public officials regarding the hateful divisional flag lowering event, including but not limited to [named] Council members. [7] Please provide the emails from any pastors or priests sent to the mayor or any other public official regarding the heterosexual/straight/nuclear family, natural family whatever the church chose to call it. Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Ms. Jacobson petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/0218, 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

Jessica Jacobson SPR23/0218 Page 2 February 21, 2022 Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it remains unclear whether the City has provided a response. Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide Ms. Jacobson with a response to her request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Ms. Jacobson 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: Jessica Jacobson