Boston Accountability Network v. Boston, City of - Public Records (SPR 20232761)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records November 28, 2023 SPR23/2761 Shawn A. Williams, Esq. Director of Public Records City of Boston One City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201 Dear Attorney Williams: I have received the petition of Boston Accountability Network appealing the response of the City of Boston (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66 § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On October 23, 2023, the requestor sought “[a]ny and all messages, data, information, etc., contained within the encrypted messaging app ‘Signal,’ involving specific elected and appointed City officials.” The City responded on November 6, 2023. Unsatisfied with the response, the requestor petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/2761, was opened as a result. In an email received by this office on November 17, 2023, a City representative stated that the City intends on providing a further response to the requestor to address the records request. Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide the requestor with said response in a manner consistent with 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 the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. The requestor may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Boston Accountability Network 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