Rachel Crawford v. Ashland, Town of - Office of the Town Clerk (SPR 20253040)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records October 23, 2025 SPR25/3040 Cindy Livingstone Town Clerk Town of Ashland 101 Main Street Ashland, MA 01721 Dear Ms. Livingstone: On October 17, 2025, this office received your petition on behalf of the Town of Ashland (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 petition to the requestor, Rachel Crawford. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv)(2). On October 7, 2025, Ms. Crawford requested, “[a]ny public records you may have of [an identified individual] while he was an employee of the town. Which may include but not limited to use of force, dishonest or sexual assault.” 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 business 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. 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

Cindy Livingstone SPR25/3040 Page 2 October 23, 2025 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 its petition, the Town requests an extension of 15 business days and provides the following in support of its request “[g]iven the time needed to search and review responsive records for this, it is estimated that it will take the Town longer than the 10 business days allowed by the Public Records Law.” In light of the need to collect, segregate and examine the records, 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 15 business days. Conclusion As described above, I find the Town has established good cause for a time extension of 15 business days. Please note, Ms. Crawford 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: Rachel Crawford