All emails related to Boston Water and Sewer Project Dec 2024
| Submitted | Dec. 18, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Brian McCarter
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
Please provide all emails from Dec 2024 related to the Boston Water and sewer project.
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,
Brian McCarter
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 18, 2024. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Boston Planning & Development Agency
Hello Brian,
I hope this email finds you well. I am confirming that the Planning
Department has received your public records request, dated 12/12/2024.
Specifically, you requested:
*"...all emails from Dec 2024 related to the Boston Water and sewer
project."*
Thank you for your patience. Your request has been forwarded to the
respective departments in order to compile the responsive documents. Due to
the broad nature of your request, we expect that we will be able to produce
responsive records within 25 business days of the original receipt of your
request.
Best,
Danielle
*----*
Danielle Cournoyer (pronouns she/her/hers)
Public Records Specialist
Planning Department
City of Boston
617-918-4448 (w)
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 18, 2024. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 6, 2025. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Boston Planning & Development Agency
Hello Brian,
This email shall act as the Planning Department's response to your request
for public records. This response applies only to records that exist and
are in the custody of the Planning Department. (See "A Guide to the
Massachusetts Public Records Law", (2022) p. 32, n. 115).
Specifically, you requested:
*"...all emails from Dec 2024 related to the Boston Water and sewer
project."*
There is a presumption under the Massachusetts Public Records Law that
government records are public; however, government records custodians are
permitted to redact or withhold portions of public records, so long as a
specific exemption to the law is cited. (See G. L. c. 4, § 7 (26))
The Planning Department has exercised (2) exemptions in reviewing your
request:
1. Privacy Exemption: We have redacted the personal email addresses and
cell phone numbers belonging to individuals that appear in the responsive
records. When redacting this personal information, the Planning
Department relied upon the second clause of the privacy exemption set forth
in *G. L. c. 4, § 7(26)(c)*. It is the position of the Planning
Department that the release of personal email addresses and cell phone
numbers would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. In
taking this position, the Planning Department believes that such
information constitutes "intimate details of a highly personal nature," as
personal email addresses and cell phone numbers are not typically otherwise
available for public consumption. In weighing the protection of privacy
interests versus the public interest in disclosure, the Planning Department
ultimately determines that providing this information would amount to an
unwarranted intrusion into the privacy of the individuals. Further, any
public interest in the disclosure of personal email addresses and cell
phone numbers does not outweigh the privacy interest held by the
individuals.
2. The Deliberative Process Exemption: We have withheld (2) emails and
(2) working drafts of a Purchase and Sale Agreement based on the
Deliberative Process Exemption. The Deliberative Process Exemption is
intended to avoid release of materials that could taint the deliberative
process if prematurely disclosed. Its application is limited to
recommendations on legal and policy matters found within an ongoing
deliberative process that are contained within inter-agency or intra-agency
memoranda or letters. The City's internal planning for the development
of the BWSC Parking Lots is ongoing and, as such, any and all documents
concerning the City's ongoing internal planning are protected from
disclosure under the deliberative process exemption. (See G. L. c. 4, §
7(26)(d))
In answer to your public records request, please find the responsive
records through the link below:
*PRR 12.18.2024 - BWSC Communications_December 2024*
<https://bpda.box.com/s/9t0zx85m15p5m5ae0ikfy7sps4b2ql9v>
Under Massachusetts law, you may appeal this response to the Supervisor of
Records in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. (G.L. c.
66, § 10A; 950 CMR 32.08)
Best,
Danielle
*----*
Danielle Cournoyer (pronouns she/her/hers)
Public Records Specialist
Planning Department
City of Boston
617-918-4448 (w)
-
PRR_12.18.2024_-_BWSC_Communications_December_2024
From: Brian McCarter
In claiming the Deliberative process exemption, please provide the nature of the exact legal or policy matter still under review, and the date it's expected to be completed.
From: Boston Planning & Development Agency
Hello Brian,
The policy matter being protected is the intra-agency transfer of the BWSC
parking lots to facilitate the development of the same. The development of
these parcels is a priority and the parties are working diligently towards
finalization of the Purchase and Sale Agreement but we do not have an
estimated completion date at this time.
Best,
Danielle
*----*
Danielle Cournoyer (pronouns she/her/hers)
Public Records Specialist
Planning Department
City of Boston
617-918-4448 (w)
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 18, 2024. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 6, 2025. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 18, 2024. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 6, 2025. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 18, 2024. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 6, 2025. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Boston Planning & Development Agency
Good Morning Brian,
I apologize for any confusion. A response to your public records request
from December 18, 2024, was sent to you on January 24, 2025. Below, I have
included the original correspondence, which contains the link to the
responsive records.
Best,
Danielle
*Email sent January 24, 2025:*
Hello Brian,
This email shall act as the Planning Department's response to your request
for public records. This response applies only to records that exist and
are in the custody of the Planning Department. (See "A Guide to the
Massachusetts Public Records Law", (2022) p. 32, n. 115).
Specifically, you requested:
*"...all emails from Dec 2024 related to the Boston Water and sewer
project."*
There is a presumption under the Massachusetts Public Records Law that
government records are public; however, government records custodians are
permitted to redact or withhold portions of public records, so long as a
specific exemption to the law is cited. (See G. L. c. 4, § 7 (26))
The Planning Department has exercised (2) exemptions in reviewing your
request:
1. Privacy Exemption: We have redacted the personal email addresses and
cell phone numbers belonging to individuals that appear in the responsive
records. When redacting this personal information, the Planning
Department relied upon the second clause of the privacy exemption set forth
in *G. L. c. 4, § 7(26)(c)*. It is the position of the Planning
Department that the release of personal email addresses and cell phone
numbers would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. In
taking this position, the Planning Department believes that such
information constitutes "intimate details of a highly personal nature," as
personal email addresses and cell phone numbers are not typically otherwise
available for public consumption. In weighing the protection of privacy
interests versus the public interest in disclosure, the Planning Department
ultimately determines that providing this information would amount to an
unwarranted intrusion into the privacy of the individuals. Further, any
public interest in the disclosure of personal email addresses and cell
phone numbers does not outweigh the privacy interest held by the
individuals.
2. The Deliberative Process Exemption: We have withheld (2) emails and
(2) working drafts of a Purchase and Sale Agreement based on the
Deliberative Process Exemption. The Deliberative Process Exemption is
intended to avoid release of materials that could taint the deliberative
process if prematurely disclosed. Its application is limited to
recommendations on legal and policy matters found within an ongoing
deliberative process that are contained within inter-agency or intra-agency
memoranda or letters. The City's internal planning for the development
of the BWSC Parking Lots is ongoing and, as such, any and all documents
concerning the City's ongoing internal planning are protected from
disclosure under the deliberative process exemption. (See G. L. c. 4, §
7(26)(d))
In answer to your public records request, please find the responsive
records through the link below:
*PRR 12.18.2024 - BWSC Communications_December 2024*
<https://bpda.box.com/s/9t0zx85m15p5m5ae0ikfy7sps4b2ql9v>
Under Massachusetts law, you may appeal this response to the Supervisor of
Records in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. (G.L. c.
66, § 10A; 950 CMR 32.08)
Best,
Danielle
*----*
Danielle Cournoyer (pronouns she/her/hers)
Public Records Specialist
Planning Department
City of Boston
617-918-4448 (w)
