Claire McGale v. Holyoke, City of - City Clerk (SPR 20252360)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records August 26, 2025 SPR25/2360 Kathleen E. Degnan, Esq. Assistant City Solicitor City of Holyoke City Hall Annex 20 Korean Veterans Plaza Holyoke, MA 01040 Dear Attorney Degnan: I have received the appeal of Claire McGale appealing the nonresponse of the City of Holyoke (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On July 24, 2025, Ms. McGale requested: [a]ccess to all emails, documents, reports, and communication records that discuss, plan, consider, constitute or pertain to community needs assessments related to mental health and/or substance use within the City of Holyoke, Massachusetts, for the period from January 1, 2019, to the present. This includes but is not limited to [n]eeds assessment reports[;] [c]ommunity health surveys[;] [f]ocus group summaries[;] [s]takeholder meeting notes[;] [c]orrespondence related to community input[s] [d]ata analyses or evaluations[.] Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Ms. McGale petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR25/2360, was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it remains unclear whether the City has provided a response. Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide Ms. McGale with a response to her request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Ms. McGale may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety (90) 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

Kathleen E. Degnan, Esq. SPR25/2360 Page 2 August 26, 2025 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Claire McGale