Webb, David v. Worcester, City of (SPR 20260303)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records February 4, 2026 SPR26/0303 Michael Manning Records Access Officer City of Worcester 455 Main Street Worcester, MA 01609 Dear Mr. Manning: On January 29, 2026, this office received your petition on behalf of the City of Worcester (City) 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 City furnished a copy of the petition to the requestor, David Webb. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv)(2). The City received the following two public records requests from Mr. Webb on December 30, 2025: [1] [t]he WPD crime reports provided to neighborhood groups for the month of September, October, November and December, 2025. [P]lease note I am seeking the complete document read and referenced by officers in neighborhood meetings… The City assigned reference number P082151-123025 to this request. [2] [t]he WPD crime reports provided to neighborhood groups for the month of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, 2025 – please note I am seeking the complete document read and referenced by officers in neighborhood meetings, that include the times addresses and dates of incidents. The City assigned reference number P082152-123025 to this request. 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 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

Michael Manning SPR26/0303 Page 2 February 4, 2026 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) 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). Current Petition In its petition, the City requests an extension of 30 business days and provides the following information in support of its request: Based on information provided at [a specified] webpage ... [t]here is over twenty separate Neighborhood Meeting Locations with most meeting once monthly. The Worcester Police Department’s Neighborhood Response Team assigns a number of different Worcester Police Officers to attend each meeting. In order to search for responsive records, the City must inquire with each Officer as to any material disseminated at the meetings in question. As noted by Mr. Webb in his requests, should materials have been provided to the attendees of these meetings, I anticipate that these records, once collected, should be provided to the requestor with minimal redactions. However, should these records contain notes or other materials created by officers to prepare for these meetings which have not been shared and are not maintained as a part of the files of the Worcester Department, these records will require redaction or withholding under Exemption (e) of the Public Records Law. Finally, since January 1, 2026, the City of Worcester has received 1,509 public records requests. A number of these requests will continue

Michael Manning SPR26/0303 Page 3 February 4, 2026 to require similar levels of collaboration between the City’s Law Department and the Worcester Police Department in order for the City to produce responsive records. In light of the need to collect, segregate and examine the records, as well as the capacity of the City to produce the records without an extension, the City respectfully requests that the Supervisor grant an extension of thirty business days. I find that in light of the need to collect, segregate, and examine the records, and the capacity of the City to produce the records without the extension, the City has established good cause to permit an extension of time. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c)(i)-(iv). The City is granted an extension of 30 business days. Conclusion Accordingly, I find the City has established good cause for a time extension of 30 business days as described above. Please note, Mr. Webb 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: David Webb