Steven Bachelor v. Holyoke Community College (SPR 20253226)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records November 7, 2025 SPR25/3226 Narayan Sampath Records Access Officer Holyoke Community College 303 Homestead Avenue Holyoke, MA 01040 Dear Mr. Sampath: On November 3, 2025, this office received your petition on behalf of the Holyoke Community College (College) 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 College furnished a copy of the petition to the requestor, Steven Bachelor. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); G. L.c. 66, § 10(d)(iv)(2). From October 20, 2025 through October 30, 2025, Mr. Bachelor submitted 19 public records requests. Please note that in an email correspondence to this Office on November 3, 2025, Mr. Bachelor objected to the College’s petition. Petitions 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 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

Narayan Sampath SPR25/3226 Page 3 November 7, 2025 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) shall provide an initial response to a requestor within ten business days after receipt of a request for public records. 950 C.M.R. 32.06(4)(b). Request for Additional Time to Produce Responsive Records In its petition, the College requests an extension of 20 business days and provides the following in support its request: Since October 20, 2025, the College has received 19 additional public records requests which it perceives as frivolous, intended to intimidate, appear to be a “fishing expedition”, and designed to disrupt the College’s operations particularly as they are repetitive and excessive. As such the College asserts that these requests are an abuse of public records laws and a drain on State resources. In addition, Mr. Bachelor’s public records requests contains 19 separate requests, with multiple documents sought in each of the 19 requests, which could result in a voluminous number of records, some of which may be subject to exemptions pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 4, section 7(26). The nature of the records requested, which involve emails and other documents that contain, for example, sensitive, safety, and/or security information, require that each record be carefully reviewed to ensure that production of the document is lawful. The compilation, review, segregation and possible redaction of said documents will require the engagement of numerous key administrators. In addition, Mr. Bachelor has requested a Vaughn Index which will require significant additional time. Thus, for any or all of the reasons outlined above, the College does not have the capacity to identify documents responsive to the request, and review records to determine if exemptions are applicable, and produce the requested documents and/or issue estimated charges by the tenth business day following its receipt as required by the law.

Narayan Sampath SPR25/3226 Page 3 November 7, 2025 Based on the information provided in the College’s petition, I find that in light of the need to search for, collect, segregate or examine records, the College has established good cause to permit an extension of time. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c)(i)-(iii). The College is granted an extension of 20 business days. Conclusion As described above, I find the College has established good cause for a time extension of 20 business days. Please note, Mr. Bachelor 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: Steven Bachelor