Ronald G. Guilmette v. Amesbury, City of - City Clerk (SPR 20240308)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records February 15, 2024 SPR24/0308 Jennifer Smith City Clerk City of Amesbury 62 Friend Street Amesbury, MA 01913 Dear Ms. Smith: I have received the petition of Ronald G. Guilmette, of the Amesbury Patrol Officer’s Union, appealing the nonresponse of the City of Amesbury (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On December 22, 2023, Mr. Guilmette requested: [1.] ... letters dropped off to Mayor ... office in October of 2020 referenced in the Newburyport Daily News and any other letters sent to the Mayors [sic] office regarding complaints and allegations against administration and high ranking officers from the Amesbury Police Department[;] [2.] ... investigatory results and documentation regarding the investigation conducted to include any and all emails, correspondence or documents pertaining to the above mentioned allegations . . . . This is to include emails between [four identified City officials and one identified former City official and emails to an identified City official from an identified representative of the] Newburyport Daily News[;] [3.] ... information submitted from The Badge Quest Police Chief search to [two identified City officials and the] Amesbury Human Resource Department. This is to include any and all physical correspondence, emails or documents. This would also include any letters, emails or official correspondence sent to [two identified City officials] in regard to the hiring of [an identified City official;] [4.]... documented complaints to the Amesbury Human Resources Department and Office of Mayor ... against [two identified City officials and one identified former City official]. 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

Jennifer Smith SPR24/0308 Page 2 February 15, 2024 Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Mr. Guilmette petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/0308, was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it remains unclear whether the City has provided a response. Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide Mr. Guilmette with a response to his request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, 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. Mr. Guilmette may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Ronald G. Guilmette