Paul F. Zerola, Esq. v. Wakefield, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20240249)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records January 30, 2024 SPR24/0249 Lieutenant Scott T. Reboulet Wakefield Police Department 1 Union Street Wakefield, MA 01880 Dear Lieutenant Reboulet: On January 26, 2024, this office received your petition on behalf of the Wakefield Police Department (Department) seeking permission to assess fees for time spent segregating and redacting responsive records and a waiver of statutory limits to fees that may be assessed in responding to the request. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.06(4). As required by law, the Department furnished a copy of the petition to the requestor, Attorney Paul F. Zerola, of Zerola & Associates, P.C. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv)(2). On December 27, 2023, Attorney Zerola requested ten categories of records regarding “an auto accident report. . .on December 6, 2023, involving [identified individuals]…” Subsequently, in an email to Lieutenant Reboulet and this Division on January 26, 2024, Attorney Zerola states “…we are ready, willing and able to pay the fee for redaction totaling $413.00. I shall issue a check forwith.” In light of the above, it is unnecessary to opine on the Department’s petition to assess fees for time spent segregating and redacting responsive records and a waiver of statutory limits to fees. Further, this office encourages Attorney Zerola and the Department to continue to communicate to facilitate providing records more efficiently and affordably. See G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(vii). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Paul F. Zerola, Esq. 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