Compensated absences FY2011, 2012 and 2013 (Haverhill Human Resources Department)

To Whom It May Concern:

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

-A copy of the policy for reimbursement related to compensated absences that are recorded as liabilities in finances
-A record of the total amount of compensated absences that are recorded as liabilities for FY2011, FY2012 and FY2013

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 fees cannot be waived, 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,

Shawn Musgrave

Ms. Carrington,

Thank you for getting back to me on this request.

For the listing of liability for FY2011 and FY2012, these are typically line items in the city/town budget. Could you confirm whether these line items exist in the budget and send any applicable documents?

For the policy, these are often spelled out in collective bargaining agreements. Could you please confirm that no such agreement exists regarding compensated absences? This is a standard component of collective bargaining proceedings.

Thank you again for your help.

Best,
Shawn

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

Hello,

This records request remains outstanding. Please confirm whether your office is still searching for responsive documents -- the balance of compensated absences is a standard and required line item of audited financial statements.

Best,
Shawn

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

Ms. Carrington,

Please see below for the response I sent you regarding your October 16, 2013 response:

====

Ms. Carrington,

Thank you for getting back to me on this request.

For the listing of liability for FY2011 and FY2012, these are typically line items in the city/town budget. Could you confirm whether these line items exist in the budget and send any applicable documents?

For the policy, these are often spelled out in collective bargaining agreements. Could you please confirm that no such agreement exists regarding compensated absences? This is a standard component of collective bargaining proceedings.

Thank you again for your help.

Best,
Shawn

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

Hello,

I wanted to follow up on the request copied below. The person who was originally handling the request informed us that they will be retiring and directed this request to your attention.

Please confirm receipt and provide an estimated date of completion.

Thank you.

Denise, hello!
The final response we received from your agency, dated October 16th, 2014 is as follows:

"Dear Shawn Musgrave,
I am responding to your e-mail of October 3, 2013 requesting a copy of the policy for reimbursement related to compensated absences that are recorded as liabilities in finances. A record of the total amount of compensated absences that are recorded as liabilities for the stated years.
First, the City of Haverhill does not have a policy nor does it maintain any such listing as you have requested. The public records law does not require that a record keeper create a document which does not exist in order to satisfy a request.
Any person who believes they have been denied access to public records may pursue the remedy provided for in G.L. c. 66 s.10, which is to petition the Supervisor of Records at: Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, McCormack Building, Room 1719, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108. "

In response, we wrote back, on the same day -

"Thank you for getting back to me on this request.
For the listing of liability for FY2011 and FY2012, these are typically line items in the city/town budget. Could you confirm whether these line items exist in the budget and send any applicable documents?
For the policy, these are often spelled out in collective bargaining agreements. Could you please confirm that no such agreement exists regarding compensated absences? This is a standard component of collective bargaining proceedings.
Thank you again for your help.
Best,
Shawn"

Could you please provide a response to the questions brought up in our reply?
Thanks so much!
Best,

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 3, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.