Sam Houghton v. Department of State Police (SPR 20243016)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records November 12, 2024 SPR24/3016 Allison Mondello Public Records Manager Department of State Police 470 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702 Dear Ms. Mondello: I have received the petition of Sam Houghton, of the Martha’s Vineyard Times, appealing the nonresponse of the Department of State Police (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On October 17, 2024, Mr. Houghton requested, “the crash report from a fatal moped accident that occurred on August 15, 2024 on Sea View Avenue in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard at approximately 11:30 am.” Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Mr. Houghton petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/3016, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Department provided Mr. Houghton with a response on November 11, 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. Mr. Houghton 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: Sam Houghton 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