Todd Wallack v. Belmont, Town of - Town Clerk (SPR 20241796)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records July 2, 2024 SPR24/1796 Ellen O’Brien Cushman Town Clerk Records Access Officer 455 Concord Avenue Belmont, MA 02478 Dear Ms. O’Brien Cushman: I have received the petition of Todd Wallack, of WBUR, appealing the response of the Town of Belmont (Town) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On May 17, 2024, Mr. Wallack requested, “[a] copy of your log of public records requests since Jan. 1, 2019. If your log is only readily available for a more recent period, please provide the log for that more recent period instead.” The Department responded on June 18, 2024. Unsatisfied with the response, Mr. Wallack petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/1796, was opened as a result. Subsequently, the Town provided a supplemental response on June 18, 2024, which Mr. Wallack appealed on June 20, 2024. It is my understanding that the Town intends on providing a further response to Mr. Wallack. Accordingly, the Town is ordered to provide Mr. Wallack with said response in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Regulations within 10 business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Wallack may appeal the substantive nature of the Town’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Todd Wallack 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