Blake Mensing v. Baker Hill Road District (SPR 20231571)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records July 24, 2023 SPR23/1571 Mark Siegars, Esq. Baker Hill Road District P. O. Box 380 Lanesborough, MA 01237 Dear Attorney Siegars: I have received the petition of Attorney Blake M. Mensing, of The Mensing Group, LLC, appealing the nonresponse of the Baker Hill Road District (District) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On April 12, 2023, Attorney Mensing requested the following records: [1.] A copy of all legal bills sent by you, Attorney ... or your law firm (if applicable), that you have submitted to the Baker Hill Road District for the time period of July 1, 2022, to today, 4/12/2023, whether paid or unpaid. [2.] ... a copy of any and all legal services agreements that you, Attorney... or your law firm (if applicable), have had or currently have in force, for your legal representation of the Baker Hill Road District. [3.] A copy of any and all written communications (electronic or otherwise) sent by you, Attorney... or your law firm (if applicable), or by [named] Prudential Committee Members, on behalf of the Baker Hill Road District for the time period of 7/1/2022 to 4/12/2023 to any local government official or any state government official regarding [named location] Lanesborough, MA 01237, the former Berkshire Mall’s current record owner, or that relates to ... Corporation, or that relates to me, ... or my business [named] partners. [4.] A copy of all contracts and invoices between the Baker Hill Road District and: The Lanesborough Department of Public Works[;] The Lanesborough Police Department[;] Any Lanesborough Public Safety Services. Any contract or invoice reflecting the amount of the Baker Hill Road District’s Prudential Committee of 7/1/2022 to 4/12/2023. The Baker Hill Road District’s Treasurer. 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

Mark Siegers, Esq. SPR23/1571 Page 2 July 24, 2023 The Baker Hill Road District’s Secretary. The Baker Hill Road District’s Website Manager for the creation and/or maintenance of the Baker Hill Road District’s website . . . [5.] A copy of all meeting minutes of the Prudential Committee of the Baker Hill Road District for the time period of 7/1/2022 to 4/12/2023. Claiming to not yet have received a response, Attorney Mensing petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/1571, was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it remains unclear whether the District has provided a response. Accordingly, the District is ordered to provide Attorney Mensing with a response to his request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and it 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. Attorney Mensing may appeal the substantive nature of the District’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Blake M. Mensing, Esq.