Brower, William v. Springfield, City of (SPR 20260731)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records March 4, 2026 SPR26/0731 Alesia H. Days, Esq. Deputy City Solicitor City of Springfield 36 Court Street, Room 210 Springfield, MA 01103 Dear Attorney Days: I have received the petition of William Brower appealing the nonresponse of the City of Springfield (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On December 8, 2025, Mr. Brower requested the following: [1] All budget reports, ledgers, or financial summaries showing the allocation, expenditures, and remaining balance of the Emergency Assistance / Homelessness Prevention Fund (the separate, immediate-use fund authorized under 108 CMR 8.06 for veterans experiencing actual or imminent homelessness) for the Springfield Veterans’ Services Office, July 1, 2024 –present[;] [2] The undistributed or unencumbered balance in the Emergency Assistance / Homelessness Prevention Fund (108 CMR 8.06 fund only) as of November 1, 2025 and the first day of each month from July 2024 through December 2025[;] [3] Any emails, memos, or notes from October 1 – December 8, 2025 in which EOVS or Springfield VSO staff discuss the availability or non-use of the Emergency Assistance/Homelessness Prevention Fund in cases where a veteran was actually homeless[;] [4] [A] summary or log of all disbursements from this fund by the Springfield Veterans’ Services Office from January 1, 2021, to the present date (December 8, 2025). This should list each instance of fund use by date, amount disbursed, and a brief non-identifying description of the purpose (e.g., “rent arrears prevention” or “temporary shelter costs”, with all veteran names and other personally identifiable information fully redacted to protect privacy. Aggregate totals for each calendar 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

Alesia H. Days, Esq. SPR26/0731 Page 2 March 4, 2026 year (e.g., total number of uses and total amount disbursed in 2021, 2022, etc.) should also be provided[.] Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Mr. Brower petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR26/0731, was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it remains unclear whether the City has provided a response. Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide Mr. Brower with a response to his request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Brower may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: William Brower