Unedited video of me taken by Town Clerk Joseph Powers during his questioning for my Public Records Requests to the Town of Wellfleet on September 14, 2017

To Wellfleet Town Clerk Joseph Powers:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

Unedited video of me taken by you during your questioning for my Public Records Requests to the Town of Wellfleet on Thursday, September 14th from 2-3pm.

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. 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.

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,

Jude Ahern

Hello,
Below I've copied one of Jude Ahern's requests. It was originally submitted to your office via the U.S. Postal Service on Dec. 15, 2017. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call MuckRock's office at 617-299-1832. Thank you.
Best,
Caitlin Russell
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To Wellfleet Town Clerk Joseph Powers:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

Unedited video of me taken by you during your questioning for my Public Records Requests to the Town of Wellfleet on Thursday, September 14th from 2-3pm.

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. 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.

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,

Jude Ahern

Joseph Powers, the Wellfleet Town Clerk and Public Records Officer, replied that no record exists but it certainly does! I was the one with the video camera one foot away from me for the one hour interrogation at the library on September 14, 2017. He asked me before the meeting (he said we couldn't call a meeting) if it could be taped and that he could give me a copy. I asked if it would be made public and he said no, it was just for the accuracy of his notes. I said sure because I have nothing to hide, I simply wanted to see all of the letters of recommendation for the job position of Wellfleet Shellfish Constable. During the interrogation Mr. Powers got angry and announced that the meeting was over so I asked how I would get a copy of this video and he said “You won’t!” and when I replied “But you said I would” he replied “I said I COULD!”