Grace Ferguson v. Department of Public Health (SPR 20242071)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records July 26, 2024 SPR24/2071 Helen Rush-Lloyd Records Access Officer Department of Public Health 250 Washington Street Boston, MA 02108 Dear Ms. Rush-Lloyd: I have received the petition of Grace Ferguson, of The New Bedford Light, appealing the nonresponse of the Department of Public Health (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On July 1, 2024, Ms. Ferguson requested “[a]ll death certificate data for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.” Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Ms. Ferguson petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/2071, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Department provided a response to Ms. Ferguson on July 24, 2024. Where this appeal was opened as a result of the Department’s lack of a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Ferguson may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Grace Ferguson 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