Jacquelyn Wehtje v. Fitchburg, City of - City Clerk (SPR 20230900)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records May 16, 2023 SPR23/0900 Joan David Fitchburg City Clerk’s Office 718 Main Street Fitchburg, MA 01420 Dear Ms. David, I have received the petition of Jacquelyn Wehtje appealing the nonresponse of the City of Fitchburg to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On April 19, 2023, Ms. Wehtje requested correspondence between identified individuals. Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulations (Regulations) all requests for public records must be met with a response within 10 business days of receipt of the request. G. L. c. 66, § l0(a)-(b). The response may contain, among other things, an offer to provide records, a fee estimate for provision of the records, or a denial. G. L. c. 66, § l0(b). All records custodians must comply with both the Public Records Law and the Regulations with respect to the timeliness of response. Despite being notified of the opening of these appeals and a communication from a member of the Public Records Division staff, it is not clear that a response has been provided. Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide Ms. Wehtje with a response to the request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within 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. Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Jacquelyn Wehtje 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