Boston Fire Dept. Suspension Letter

Dear Chip Goines, Thank you for your interest in public records of City of Boston. Your request has been received and is being processed. Your request was received in this office on 8/9/2023 2:06:21 AM and given the reference number R002913-080923 for tracking purposes. To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

There is a known email dated 1/20/23 sent at 4:24 pm EST from Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke to Deputy Chief of Staff Yusufi Vali, with the subject titled "Strong", with the body of the text referring to a disciplinary action taken against Boston Firefighter Anthony Wayne Strong. This email also contains a pdf attachment labeled "FF Anthony Strong Suspension.pdf".

I am seeking access to that attached letter which fully explains the disciplinary action against Anthony Strong.

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, and is not made 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,

Chip Goines

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you for using the Public Records Center. Director of Public Records
Records Access Officer
City of Boston

--- Please respond above this line ---
08/23/2023 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 09, 2023., Reference # R002913-080923 Dear Chip Goines: The City of Boston (City) has received your request for public records.  This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the City. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115.  It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records with respect to responses to public records requests.  950 CMR 32.04(5).  Specifically, you stated:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

There is a known email dated 1/20/23 sent at 4:24 pm EST from Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke to Deputy Chief of Staff Yusufi Vali, with the subject titled "Strong", with the body of the text referring to a disciplinary action taken against Boston Firefighter Anthony Wayne Strong. This email also contains a pdf attachment labeled "FF Anthony Strong Suspension.pdf".

I am seeking access to that attached letter which fully explains the disciplinary action against Anthony Strong.

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, and is not made 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,

Chip Goines

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ A response to a public records request must be provided within ten (10) business days from the business day a written request was received.  G. L. c. 66, § 10 (a); 950 CMR 32.06(2)(b).  The public records law permits a response time of up to twenty-five (25) business days from the business day a written request is received, so long as a detailed explanation is provided.  G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(vi); 950 CMR 32.06(2)(i). Due to the nature of your request additional time is needed. As such, the City will need up to, but no more than, fifteen (15) additional business days to review and process your request. Affably yours, Jean E. Shirley Executive Assistant to the Director of Public Records City of Boston One City Hall Plaza Boston, MA  02210

--- Please respond above this line ---
09/12/2023 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 09, 2023, Reference # R002913-080923 Dear Chip Goines: The City of Boston (City) has received your request for public records.  This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the City. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115.  It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records concerning responses to public records requests.  950 CMR 32.04(5).  Specifically, you stated:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

There is a known email dated 1/20/23 sent at 4:24 pm EST from Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke to Deputy Chief of Staff Yusufi Vali, with the subject titled "Strong", with the body of the text referring to a disciplinary action taken against Boston Firefighter Anthony Wayne Strong. This email also contains a pdf attachment labeled "FF Anthony Strong Suspension.pdf".

I am seeking access to that attached letter which fully explains the disciplinary action against Anthony Strong.

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, and is not made 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,

Chip Goines

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ The record you seek is a personnel record for a specifically identified person and as such is exempt from disclosure. The public interest does not outweigh the privacy interest in disclosure and the record is not available in another public forum.  Please note that a subject of a personnel record is entitled to a copy but this does not make a document a public record. G. L. c. 4, § 7 (26) (c). G. L. c. 149, §52C.
You may appeal this response to the Supervisor of Records in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. G. L. c. 66, § 10A (c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(ix); 950 CMR 32.08; 950 CMR 32.08(1)(h) (in petitioning the Supervisor, the requester shall provide a copy of such petition to the records access officer associated with such petition). You may also appeal to the Superior Court. 950 CMR 32.06(3)(c). Very truly yours, Shawn A. Williams, Esq. Director of Public Records Records Access Officer

Hi Chip,

Thank you so much for following up on your public records request. The
Public Records team has provided an email response through the GovQA Portal
on September 12th, 2023. Attached below is the pdf copy of the email
response sent on 9/12/23 for your convenience. Please let us know if you
have any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
Irene Chou
--

Irene (I-Jung) Chou

Paralegal, Public Records

City of Boston Law Department

Boston City Hall, Rm 615

Phone: 617.635.3268

Email: ijung.chou@boston.gov