Gas leaks policies and data - Middlesex County (Acton Town Clerk)
| Submitted | Jan. 5, 2017 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Beryl Lipton
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:
Any and all directive materials and data regarding the location and repair of gas leaks within this municipality.
Please include any ordinances, policies, procedures, or related materials regarding:
• the necessity of gas companies to report existing gas leaks to municipal officials
• the necessity of gas companies to survey areas for the existence of gas leaks
• the necessity of gas companies to repair known gas leaks
Please also include any data, statistics, maps, and other materials detailing the location and severity of known gas leaks in the areas under the jurisdiction of this municipality. Please include any data acquired from the Department of Public Utilities regarding gas leaks within this municipality.
Please include all requests from gas companies for construction and digging related to gas leaks.
Please include all requests for repair made by this municipality to companies regarding gas leaks. Please also provide all responses.
Please provide all data, statistics, maps, and other materials regarding the decay or destruction of trees and other foliage in relation to the presence of gas leaks.
If further clarification is necessary, please contact the MuckRock office at 617-299-1832.
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.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, 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 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Beryl Lipton
From: Cheryl Getsick
Good Morning,
The Clerk’s office received this request on Monday, January 9th. We will be sure to provide you a reply to your request within the required timeline. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Clerk’s office at the number listed below.
Thank you and have a pleasant day!
Cheryl Getsick
Assistant Town Clerk
472 Main Street
Acton, MA 01720
(978) 929-6620
From: Nina Pickering-Cook
Dear Ms. Lipton:
I write on behalf of my client, the Town of Acton, as we (as Town Counsel) assist it with responding to your Public Records request dated today. Via email, you have requested "Any and all directive materials and data regarding the location and repair of gas leaks within this municipality." Your request includes all data, reports, requests for construction, ordinances and policies concerning gas leaks in Acton, unrestricted by any specific location or time. The Town is endeavoring to efficiently respond to your request without having to incur or charge significant fees for search and segregation time.
Given the unrestricted nature of the request, we believe that it is not reasonably tailored to allow the Town enough information to produce all requested documents within the statutorily permitted timeframe. Therefore, the Town suggests a modification to your request pursuant to G.L. c. 66, §10(b), that should still provide you the requested information, while also making the search and segregation more manageable for the Town. Would you be willing to limit the scope of requested documents to the most recent three year period?
We look forward to your response. Thank you,
Nina
[cid:image001.png@01D008CB.78268CC0]
Nina L. Pickering-Cook
T. 617.621.6536 | F. 617.621.6636
Anderson & Kreiger LLP<http://www.andersonkreiger.com/> | 50 Milk Street, 21st Floor, Boston, MA 02109
This electronic message contains information from the law firm of Anderson & Kreiger LLP which may be privileged. The information is for the use of the intended recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient, note that any disclosure, copying, distribution or other use of the contents of this message is prohibited.
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From: Nina Pickering-Cook
Ms. Lipton:
Following up on this request, we have not had any confirmation as to whether you are willing to limit your request to the 3-year period. In any event, we have the Police records available to provide, but are holding off on searching for Engineering Department documents as the estimate for conducting such a search was exorbitant.
We await further instructions before taking any action. Thank you,
Nina
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From: Beryl Lipton
Hi Nina,
I apologize for the delay. Yes, please limit this request to January 1, 2014 through today; I would really appreciate it.
Best wishes,
Beryl
From: Cheryl Getsick
Good Afternoon,
The information gathered by the Clerk's office provided by the Police and Engineering Departments are complete. This information pertains to the information request received on January 9, 2017 is available via electronic format. There is a fee of $25.00 which can be made payable to the Town of Acton. Once received, the emails containing the information will be forwarded.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office at the number below.
Thank you,
Cheryl Getsick
Assistant Town Clerk
472 Main Street
Acton, MA 01720
(978) 929-6620
From: Beryl Lipton
Hello Ms. Getsick,
Thanks so much for the clarification. I'll send along payment shortly.
Best wishes,
Beryl