Cantelope Antelope v. Townsend, Town of (SPR 20252131)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records July 21, 2025 SPR25/2092; SPR25/2093; SPR25/2095; SPR25/2096; SPR25/2097; SPR25/2099; SPR25/2101; SPR25/2130; SPR25/2131; SPR25/2132; SPR25/2133 Harrison C. Mayotte Town Clerk Town of Townsend 272 Main Street Townsend, MA 01469 Dear Mr. Mayotte: On July 18, 2025, this office received your petitions on behalf of the Town of Townsend (Town) seeking an extension of time to produce records. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.06(4). As required by law, it is my understanding that the Town furnished a copy of the petitions to the requestor, Cantelope Antelope (requestor). G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv)(2). In eleven (11) separate requests on June 18, 2025, the requestor sought: SPR25/2092 “. . . staff-meeting notes, agendas, etc, distributed by [an identified individual] in 2025.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0177 to this request. SPR25/2093 “. . . the most recent employee head-count report broken down by department.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0173 to this request. SPR25/2095 “. . . draft memos to state legislators authored by [an identified individual], January 2025.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0163 to this request. 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

Harrison C. Mayotte. SPR25/2092; SPR25/2093; SPR25/2095; Page 2 SPR25/2096; SPR25/2097; SPR25/2099 July 21, 2025 SPR25/2101; SPR25/2130; SPR25/2131 SPR25/2132; SPR25/2133 SPR25/2096 “. . . consultant invoices approved by [an identified individual] for FY 2024.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0150 to this request. SPR25/2097 “. . . [an identified individual’s] HR-compliance training certificates for 2023 – 2024.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0151 to this request. SPR25/2099 “. . . [an identified individual’s] emails containing the keyword ‘ARPA,’ Jan – Jun 2025.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0153 to this request. SPR25/2101 “. . . text messages between [an identified individual] and the Select-Board Chair dated 10 October 2024.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0154 to this request. SPR25/2130 “. . . the complete list of Town of Townsend legal settlements finalized in FY 2022-26.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0172 to this request. SPR25/2131 “. . . [an identified individual’s] meal-reimbursement receipts over $25 for May 2024.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0156 to this request. SPR25/2132 “. . . sidewalk-plowing route maps for winter 2024-2025.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0157 to this request. SPR25/2133 “. . . any settlement agreements executed by [an identified individual] during 2024 – 2025.” The Town assigned reference number 2025-0161 to this request. In an email to the Town and this Office on July 21, 2025, the requestor objected to the Town’s petitions.

Harrison C. Mayotte. SPR25/2092; SPR25/2093; SPR25/2095; Page 3 SPR25/2096; SPR25/2097; SPR25/2099 July 21, 2025 SPR25/2101; SPR25/2130; SPR25/2131 SPR25/2132; SPR25/2133 Petition for an Extension of Time Under the Public Records law, upon a showing of good cause, the Supervisor of Records (Supervisor) may grant a single extension to an agency not to exceed 20 days and a single extension to a municipality not to exceed 30 business days. In determining whether there has been a showing of good cause, the Supervisor shall consider, but shall not be limited to considering: (i) the need to search for, collect, segregate or examine records; (ii) the scope of redaction required to prevent unlawful disclosure; (iii) the capacity or the normal business hours of operation of the agency or municipality to produce the request without the extension; (iv) efforts undertaken by the agency or municipality in fulfilling the current request and previous requests; (v) whether the request, either individually or as part of a series of requests from the same requestor, is frivolous or intended to harass or intimidate the agency or municipality; and (vi) the public interest served by expeditious disclosure. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c). If the Supervisor determines that the request is part of a series of contemporaneous requests that are frivolous or designed to intimidate or harass, and the requests are not intended for the broad dissemination of information to the public about actual or alleged government activity, the Supervisor may grant a longer extension or relieve the agency or municipality of its obligation to provide copies of the records sought. Id. The filing of a petition does not affect the requirement that a Records Access Officer (RAO) must provide an initial response to a requestor within ten business days after receipt of a request for public records. 950 C.M.R. 36.06(4)(b). Current Petition In each of its petition, the Town requests an extension of 30 additional business days and provides the following information in supports of its requests: Th[ese] request[s] [are] part of an extraordinarily high volume of public records requests submitted anonymously on June 18, 2025. Specifically, approximately 90 separate requests were submitted on that date, with 29 requests submitted by Cantelope Antelope alone, creating significant challenges in timely processing and responding in full compliance with statutory requirements. The Town takes public records seriously and believes strongly in transparency. We acknowledge our obligation under G.L. c. 66, § 10, and 950 CMR 32.00 to

Harrison C. Mayotte. SPR25/2092; SPR25/2093; SPR25/2095; Page 4 SPR25/2096; SPR25/2097; SPR25/2099 July 21, 2025 SPR25/2101; SPR25/2130; SPR25/2131 SPR25/2132; SPR25/2133 promptly respond to all public records requests. However, due to the unprecedented number of requests received simultaneously, additional time is necessary to ensure thorough searches, accurate review, and proper redaction (if necessary and lawful) of responsive records. The Town is committed to responding promptly and will issue rolling response to the requestors as searches are conducted and responsive documents are identified. In light of the need to collect, segregate and examine the records, the capacity of the Town to produce the records without an extension as well as the efforts undertaken by the Town in fulfilling the current requests, the Town has established good cause to permit an extension of time. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c)(i)-(iii). The Town is granted an extension of 30 business days. Conclusion As described above, I find that the Town has established good cause for a time extension of 30 business days. Please note, the requestor has the right to seek judicial review of this decision by commencing a civil action in the appropriate superior court. See G. L. c. 66, §§ 10(c), 10(d)(iv)(4), 10A(c). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Cantelope Antelope