Public Records Request
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS
The Massachusetts Public Records Law (M. G. L. Chapter 66, Section 10) provides that every person has a right of access to public information. This right of access includes the right to inspect, copy or have copies of records provided, upon the payment of a reasonable fee.
The Massachusetts General Laws broadly define “public records” to include all documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, which are made or received by any officer or employee of any Massachusetts governmental entity.
Requests to the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) may be made in person, through the mail, by fax, or through electronic mail. A reasonable description of the document(s) requested should be provided, to assist the Records Access Officer in identifying the requested documents. A sample request letter can be found here (link). The Records Access Officer has up to ten business days to provide a response to the request and is only required to provide records that are in existence and is not required to create a new record based on material in his/her custody to accommodate a specific request.
The MA Secretary of State Public Records Guide can be found here /home/files/ma-secretary-of-state-public-records-guide
Additionally, MRPC has made many of its commonly available records subjects to public disclosure available online for printing free of charge. Refer to Resources in the Menu bar above for records available on line. Common records available on our website are:
- Minutes
- Agendas
- Traffic Counts
- Bylaws
- Reports, Documents and Maps Prepared by MRPC
Fees
- $.05 cents for black and white paper copies and computer printouts
- Actual cost of postage to mail copies if requester request records be mailed.
- Additional cost should be no more than more than $25 per hour (after the first two hours) for time spent compiling, segregating, and redacting requested records.
Records Access Officers Contact Information: