Melinda Rivers v. State Ethics Commission (SPR 20253041)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records October 21, 2025 SPR25/3041 Gerry Tuoti Senior Public Information Officer State Ethics Commission One Ashburton Place, Room 619 Boston, MA 02108 Dear Mr. Tuoti: I have received the petition of Melinda Rivers appealing the response of the State Ethics Commission (Commission) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On October 1, 2025, Ms. Rivers requested, “... ‘copies of specific records relied upon in the Commission’s final Disposition Agreement concerning [an identified individual]” including the following: [1] All documents and communications submitted to the Commission by or on behalf of [an identified individual], including: a. Letters, written statements, affidavits, or exhibits; b. Attachments, digital files, PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, or image files; c. Physical mail, hand-delivered correspondence, or electronic submissions via email or Commission portal; d. Any additional filings by her attorneys or representatives. [2] All email exchanges (including attachments) between [an identified individual] (and any of her known or possible aliases) and any staff, investigators, or attorneys at the State Ethics Commission from August 2023 to present, including but not limited to messages sent from or to: [identified email addresses] [and] [a]ny personal or alternate accounts used by [an identified individual]. [3] Any internal Commission email chains referencing [an identified individual’s] submissions where those messages include or forward her direct communications or attachments. 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

Gerry Tuoti SPR25/3041 Page 2 October 21, 2025 The Commission responded on October 15, 2025. Unsatisfied with the Commission’s response, Ms. Rivers petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR25/3041, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Commission sent a further response to Ms. Rivers on October 21, 2025. Where this appeal was opened as a result of the Commission’s October 15, 2025 response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Rivers may appeal the substantive nature of the Commission’s October 21st response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Melinda Rivers