Belmont's civil asset forfeiture funds
It is a clone of this request.
| Tracking # |
20-497 |
| Submitted | July 23, 2020 |
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Communications
From: Alex Marthews
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
All accounting summaries, balance sheets, and transaction records from 2015 to the present for any and all financial accounts containing funds derived from civil asset forfeiture. I am interested in the total funds derived from civil asset forfeitures, and also in how those funds were used.
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 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Alex Marthews
From: Belmont Town Clerk
Belmont, Massachusetts
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Hi there
Your first Belmont, Massachusetts record request (request number #20-497) has been submitted.
It is currently unpublished and is not available for the general public to view.
This email confirms that the Town of Belmont has received your Public Records Request. Please watch your email for more updates and documents related to this request - be sure to watch your junk folder in case messages are filtered there.Per MGL Chapter 66, Section 10, and Acts of 2016, Chapter 121, the Town of Belmont will conduct research and prepare a response to your request within ten (10) business days. If necessary, we will notify you that we require the additional 15 days allowable under Massachusetts Public Records laws to complete your request. If there will be a charge to fulfill your request we will provide you with a good faith estimate. The fee will include costs for labor that exceeds 2 hours. If you consent to the cost, you must authorize the Town to proceed with the research on the promise that you will pay the actual amount due. Payment of the fee must be received prior to delivery of the records. Please note that the Commonwealth schedule for reimbursement of expenses related to a Public Records Request follows:
* $.05 per page – print or copy
* the actual reproduction cost for unique items such as full-size plans or maps
* plus the wages of the lowest-paid employee who can perform the research/copying or redacting work – the first two (2) hours are free. The maximum rate allowed to be charged is $25.00 per hour.
* if exemptions, additional fees or time are required, the Town will petition the Supervisor of Public Records
Records will be provided through this Public Records Portal, for the assigned request # and you will receive an email notification. Please be certain to check your junk mail or spam and add publicrecords@belmont-ma.gov as a safe sender to your address list.
Please be advised that you have the right of administrative appeal to the Massachusetts Supervisor of Records under 950 CMR 32.08(1), and the right to seek judicial review of any unfavorable decision by commencing a civil action in the superior court pursuant to M.G.L. c. 66, §10A (c).
As the requester, you can always see the status of your
request by signing into the Belmont, Massachusetts Public Records
portal here.
If you haven't already activated your account,
click here to get started.
Once your account is activated, your request will be visible at the following link:
Request #20-497.
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at Belmont, Massachusetts.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>
From: Belmont Town Clerk
https://belmontma.nextrequest.com/requests/20-497
I have entered your request into Belmont's Public Records Request portal.
You should receive an acknowledgement of your request; please check your spam/junk folder if not in your In Box.
We have started the process to provide the requested records.
All communication regarding your request will be through that portal.
If you have additional requests in the future, please enter them directly at https://belmontma.nextrequest.com/<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbelmontma.nextrequest.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cecushman%40belmont-ma.gov%7C31d00e158e7a4c52bc9b08d799f581c5%7Cd4728021c2aa4f8995f11e7b0b9f271e%7C0%7C0%7C637147152041647257&sdata=wsOe32PHBTBPt3idFmev5Rbdj0RYtYoht9GWMbqVENQ%3D&reserved=0> or click one of the green buttons on the Belmont homepage www.belmont-ma.gov<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.belmont-ma.gov%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cecushman%40belmont-ma.gov%7C31d00e158e7a4c52bc9b08d799f581c5%7Cd4728021c2aa4f8995f11e7b0b9f271e%7C0%7C0%7C637147152041657214&sdata=4t8U6LzvpHKWlVi4LKMloVESpwzjpHltjNogerXweQY%3D&reserved=0> .
Thank you.
Ellen O'Brien Cushman, CMMC
Town Clerk
Records Access Officer
Notary Public & Justice of the Peace
455 Concord Avenue
Belmont, MA 02478
Email: ecushman@belmont-ma.gov<mailto:ecushman@belmont-ma.gov>
Phone: 617-993-2604
All email messages and attached content sent from and to this email account are public records unless qualified as exempt under the Massachusetts Public Records Law<http://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/preidx.htm>.
Due to the state of emergency related to Covid-19, Town buildings are closed to the public but we are still working. Please contact us by phone, email, fax or mail.
2020 Belmont Election Schedule
September 1, 2020: State Primary
November 3, 2020: Presidential Election
[MASSACHUSETTS]<https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/>
Check your Massachusetts voter <http://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx>
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From: Belmont Town Clerk
Belmont, Massachusetts
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Hi there
A document has been released for record request #20-497 along with the following message:
Attached is the document you requested.
* Local Law Enforcement Trust Fund (TRUST FUND BALANCE 2015-2020).xlsx
Document links are valid for one month.
After August 30, you will need to sign in to view the document(s).
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at Belmont, Massachusetts.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>
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Local20Law20Enforcement20Trust20Fund20TRUST20FUND20BALANCE202015-2020.xlsx
From: Belmont Town Clerk
Belmont, Massachusetts
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Hi there
Record request #20-497 has been closed and published. The closure reason supplied was:
Your Public Records Request has been fulfilled. We have released all of the requested records to you. We now consider your request closed.
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at Belmont, Massachusetts.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>