Fortes, Jake v. Lowell, City of - Law Department (SPR 20260440)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records February 11, 2026 SPR26/0440 Olivia Hart-Paulson, Esq. Second Assistant City Solicitor City of Lowell – Law Department 375 Merrimack Street, 3rd Floor Lowell, MA 01852 Dear Attorney Hart-Paulson: I have received the petition of Jake Fortes appealing the response of the Lowell Law Department (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On December 25, 2025, Mr. Fortes requested: [A]ll communications with the Markley Group, its employees and associated entities including but not limited to [four identified individuals], MeadowBolt LLC or any mention of the Markley Group and its related entities with the City of Lowell. … Publicly available agendas, minutes and plans are not included in this request. It is specifically communications between those entities and the city of Lowell be it in the form of email, mail or reports. This is not limited to just known entities but any communications containing Markley, 2 Prince Ave or other related entities as well between City of Lowell staff. The time span of this request is the last 5 years except where the municipal retention record dictates a shorter time period. The Department responded on January 9, 2026 and January 12, 2026. Unsatisfied with the Department’s responses, Mr. Fortes petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR26/0440, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Department provided Mr. Fortes with a supplemental response on February 10, 2026. Where this appeal was opened as a result of the Department’s January 9th and January 12th responses, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. 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

Olivia Hart-Paulson, Esq. SPR26/0440 Page 2 February 11, 2026 Fortes may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s February 10th response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Jake Fortes