Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development

Barry Rafkind filed this request with the Department of Public Works of Somerville, MA.
Submitted Sept. 27, 2010
Est. Completion None
Status
Withdrawn

Communications

From: Barry Rafkind

Subject: None

None

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the state Freedom of Information Act, G.L.M. c.4, €7, clause 26th, I hereby request the following records:

A list of details for each of the following projects including
(1) whether the project was put out to bid
(2) the companies that submitted bids
(3) which company received the contract

Roadway Projects:
- Somerville Ave
- Beacon St.
- Washington St.
- Magoun Square
- Assembly Square Revitalization

Residential Projects
- Weston Avenue

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Barry Rafkind

Filed via MuckRock.com
185 Beacon St. #3
Somerville, MA 02143

Daytime: (857) 488- 3081
E-mail: requests@muckrock.com

From: Department of Public Works

Subject: None

None

Good afternoon Barry-

The following roadway projects are MassDOT projects and were not publicly bid by the City of Somerville:
- Somerville Ave.
- Washington Street
- Magoun Square
- Assembly Square

Any bidding information can be directly obtained from MassDOT.

I need more information on the Beacon Street and the Weston Avenue request you made.
Please feel free to call or write.

Thanks-


Robert T. Staaf, PE, LEED AP
Director of Engineering
City of Somerville - DPW
1 Franey Road
Somerville, MA 02145
o: 617.625.6600 x5410
f: 617.625.4454

From: Barry Rafkind

Subject: None

None

Hi Robert,

If this clarifies, I was looking for a list of materials for the _design phase_ of these projects.

From: Assistant City Solicitor

Subject: None

None

Dear Mr. Rifkind:

Please be advised that your September 27, 2010 e-mail and public records request and December 6, 2010 e-mail addressed to Robert T. King, Director of Engineering of the City of Somerville has been forwarded to this office for a response. This letter serves as a further response to your request.

It appears that your December 6, 2010 e-mail was sent in response to Mr. King’s October 7, 2010 response which sought clarification regarding your request. I have discussed this matter with Mr. King, records custodian, and the City is unable to identify responsive records as your request is unclear. In accordance with 950 CMR 32.05(4), please provide a reasonable description of the requested records so that the custodian can identify and locate any responsive records promptly. Specifically, it would be helpful to receive clarification as to the description of the record you are requesting when you reference a “list of materials” for the design phase of the projects. It would also be of assistance if you can identify the specific projects you are requesting records for (i.e. approximate time and/or location of project).

Please direct any additional information regarding your request to my attention.

Very truly yours,

Jason D. Grossfield
Assistant City Solicitor
City of Somerville
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: (617) 625-6600, ext. 4408
Fax: (617) 776-8847
E-Mail: jgrossfield@somervillema.gov

From: Barry Rafkind

Subject: None

None

Dear Mr. Grossfield,

Thanks for your response. I believe you have my original request in which I specified certain projects by location and the types of detail about the design phase of each project which interests me. For your reference you may find my request online at http://www.muckrock.com/foi/view/somerville-ma/office-of-strategic-planning-and-community-development/92/

I appreciate your help and am happy to help you further in resolving this request.

Sincerely,
Barry Rafkind

From: Director of Engineering

Subject: None

None

Formal response attached to this e-mail.

Thanks-

Robert T. King, PE, LEED AP
Director of Engineering
City of Somerville - DPW
1 Franey Road
Somerville, MA 02145
o: 617.625.6600 x5410
f: 617.625.4454

From: Director of Engineering

Subject: None

None

From: Barry Rafkind

Subject: None

None

Dear Mr. Robert King,

It is my understanding that for these projects, the City hires a design firm and then submits the design to MassDOT for construction. If I understand correctly, you are saying that the City does not maintain records relating to the bidding of the project designs, including which design firm was ultimately hired? Please confirm if that is the case.

Sincerely,
Barry Rafkind

From: Director of Engineering

Subject: None

None

I'll be out of the office from December 23 through December 27. I will return e-mails upon my return.

Thanks and have a nice holiday.

Robert T. Staaf, PE, LEED AP
Director of Engineering
City of Somerville - DPW
1 Franey Road
Somerville, MA 02145
o: 617.625.6600 x5410
f: 617.625.4454

From: MuckRock.com

Subject: None

None

<i>Resent request.</i>

From: MuckRock.com

Subject: None

None
We spoke with Robert Staaf today, who said he is currently working with the legal department on the request but could use some clarification. He said the diffculty is that ultimately these projects, with the exception of Western Ave., were MassDOT projects. MassDOT did those projects, awarded those projects, and oversaw the construction of those projects. Unfortunately, he the phone connection gave out but he did say he would like clarification of what you are looking for, if possible, and it sounded like he was indicating that Somerville did not maintain bidding records, although the conversation was cut short. We sent an e-mail following up.

From: City of Somerville - DPW

Subject: None

None

Good afternoon Barry-

This office, with assistance from the law department, has provided a response to your question as best we understand it.

The construction projects you identified in your original request (with the exception of Weston Avenue) were all publicly bid by MassDOT. Record information associated with that process should come directly from MassDOT.

Costs associated with copying record information on the Weston Avenue project was provided in a previous correspondence.

If this is not the information you are looking for, please provide us with more detail on the exact nature of your request.

Thanks-

Robert T. King, PE, LEED AP
Director of Engineering
City of Somerville - DPW
1 Franey Road
Somerville, MA 02145
o: 617.625.6600 x5410
f: 617.625.4454

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