Holly;
This is a request under the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M. G. L. Chapter 66, Section 10). I am requesting that I be provided a copy of the following records:
I am requesting a copy of the contract between the Town of Templeton (through it's light department) and the Narragansett Regional School District.
I recognize that you may charge reasonable costs for copies, as well as for personnel time needed to comply with this request. If you expect costs to exceed $10.00, please provide a detailed fee estimate.
The Public Records Law requires you to provide me with a written response within 10 calendar days. If you cannot comply with my request, you are statutorily required to provide an explanation in writing.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Jeff Bennett
77 Partridgeville Road
Templeton, MA 01468
978-360-4634
MGL chapter 164
Section 56C. Every municipal light commission or manager thereof, who makes or executes a contract on behalf of a municipal lighting plant, where the amount involved is five thousand dollars or more, shall furnish said contract or a copy thereof to the city or town auditor within one week after its execution. Said city or town auditor shall keep such contract or copy on file, open to public inspection during business hours. Such contracts or copies shall be kept in a separate book, arranged according to the subject of the contract, or in other convenient form. An index of the subject matter of the contracts and to the names of the contractors shall be made semi-annually, and shall also be open to public inspection in some convenient form. All allowances under and additions to such contracts, or copies thereof, shall be filed with the city or town auditor, together with a sworn statement of the officer making such allowances or additions that the same are correct and in accordance with the contract. A city or town auditor, municipal light commissioner or manager wilfully failing to comply with this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars.
Selectmen response:Mr. Bennett:
Regardless of the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 64, §56C, those records are not provided to and are not in the possession of this office. You will need to make your request directly to Templeton Light & Water.
Holly A. Young
Holly A. Young,
Assistant to the Town Administrator
The law is clear and no one in the town management echelon seems to care. Wonder why your town's finances are a disaster? Wonder why you are not read the articles at Town meeting? How about we skip all the latest policy details and spending of scarce public funds on studies and just do something simple; like follow the law! But as some selectmen like to say, we are upward and onward and we are solving issues.
posted by Jeff Bennett
