Rita Gill-McCarthy v. Boston Housing Authority (SPR 20242852)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records October 29, 2024 SPR24/2852 Dean Papademetriou, Esq. General Counsel Boston Housing Authority 52 Chauncey Street Boston, MA 02111 Dear Attorney Papademetriou: I have received the petition of Rita Gill-McCarthy appealing the response of the Boston Housing Authority (Authority/BHA) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On August 28, 2024, Ms. Gill-McCarthy requested a copy of the following records “relating to DHS Plumbing Heating & Cooling, LLC for any and all work performed for” the Authority: [1] Copies of all purchase orders for services performed by DHS Plumbing[;] [2] Copies of all invoices submitted by DHS Plumbing[;] [3] Copies of all requisitions for payments submitted by DHS Plumbing[;] [4] Copies of any and all insurance information inclusive of Workers Compensation Insurance on file for DHS Plumbing[;] [5] Copies of any and all communications to include correspondence and emails between any representative of the Boston Housing Authority and any representative of DHS Plumbing[.] On August 29, 2024, Ms. Gill-McCarthy clarified her request and stated, “[p]lease use a time frame of August 1, 2023 – present for the communications.” On September 12, 2024, the Authority responded to Ms. Gill-McCarthy, providing a fee estimate of $61.32 and indicating that the Authority would need 15 business days following its initial receipt of the request “to review and process [her] request.” See G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(vi). On October 2, 2024, the Authority provided Ms. Gill-McCarthy with a revised fee estimate of $153.20, for which it subsequently received payment. The Authority provided a further response on October 9, 2024, which included responsive records. Unsatisfied with the Authority’s responses, Ms. Gill- McCarthy petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/2852, was opened as a result. 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

Dean Papademetriou. Esq. SPR24/2852 Page 2 October 29, 2024 Subsequent to the opening of this appeal, I learned that the Authority provided a supplemental response by email to Ms. Gill-McCarthy and this office on October 23, 2024. As this appeal was opened based on the Authority’s previous responses, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. If unresolved issues remain, Ms. Gill-McCarthy may further appeal the substantive nature of the Authority’s October 23rd response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Rita Gill-McCarthy