Anonymous Requestor v. Northampton, City of - City Clerk (SPR 20232043)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records September 12, 2023 SPR23/2043 Pamela L. Powers City Clerk City of Northampton 210 Main Street, Room 4 Northampton, MA 01060 Dear Ms. Powers: I have received the petition of Anonymous requestor appealing the response of the City of Northampton (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On August 22, 2023, the requestor made a verbal request to the City Clerk’s office to view the death record of [an identified individual] who died recently in the City. The requestor stated, “I am providing this email address for you to provide your response to my oral request to view the death certificate made on 8/22 ...” The requestor also stated, “[o]n Tuesday, August 22nd I entered the clerk’s office and requested to view the death certificate of [an identified individual].” The City responded on August 28, 2023 and provided a redacted death certificate. Unsatisfied with the response, the requestor petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/2043, was opened as a result. Pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.08 an appeal shall be in writing, and shall include a copy of the original request as sent to the custodian. The Supervisor shall accept an appeal only from a person who has made his or her request in writing. An oral request, while valid as a public records request pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.05(3), may not be the basis of an appeal under 950 C.M.R. 32.08. To petition an appeal, the Supervisor of Records must be sent copies of the following: 1. The written request; 2. The written response, if any had; 3. A brief letter detailing the reason for the appeal. 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

Pamela L. Powers SPR23/2043 Page 2 September 12, 2023 Given that there is no written request, we are unable to assist the requestor regarding this appeal at this time. The requestor may re-submit the appeal when copies of all the required documents are available. Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Anonymous