Deirdre Fernandes v. Executive Office of Health & Human Services (SPR 20242224)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records August 20, 2024 SPR24/2224 Patricia M. Scanlan, Esq. Primary Records Access Officer Assistant General Counsel Executive Office of Health and Human Services One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108 Dear Attorney Scanlan: I have received the petition of Deirdre Fernandes, of the Boston Globe, appealing the response of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (Office/EOHHS) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66 § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On May 31, 2024, Ms. Fernandes requested the following records: [1] all invoices submitted to and paid by EOHHS for shelters and family welcome centers. This is a follow-up to the Globe’s March request for records documenting all payments made for sites that have housed or screened migrant families. [2] The agency provided a spreadsheet of payments on May 31. I am requesting all documents, invoices or bills submitted for each of those payments. Please also include documents, invoices and bills submitted for payments through the present. [3] Please include documents and bills related to the following [identified] invoices included in the May 31 spreadsheet. On June 17, 2024, the Office provided a response. Unsatisfied with the Office’s response, Ms. Fernandes petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/2224, was opened as a result. It is my understanding that the Office has indicated that it intends to provide a further response to Ms. Fernandes, and will produce the records on a rolling basis. Accordingly, the Office is ordered to provide Ms. Fernandes 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. Ms. Fernandes may appeal the substantive nature of the Office’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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

Patricia M. Scanlan, Esq. SPR24/2224 Page 2 August 20, 2024 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Deirdre Fernandes