In accordance with the Massachusetts Public Records Law, G.L. c. 66, § 10, and 950 CMR 32.00, the Town may assess reasonable fees associated with responding to public records requests.
For requests that require staff time to search for, compile, segregate, redact, or reproduce responsive records, fees may be assessed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the work, not to exceed $25.00 per hour, unless otherwise approved by the Supervisor of Records.
Because Northborough has a population of 20,000 or fewer, allowable staff time may be charged beginning with the first hour of work. Fees for time spent segregating or redacting records will only be assessed when such segregation or redaction is required by law or otherwise authorized by the Supervisor of Records.
When a fee is anticipated, the Town will provide the requester with an itemized, good-faith fee estimate in accordance with the Massachusetts Public Records Law. The estimate will be based on the anticipated staff time and other allowable costs necessary to fulfill the request. Actual costs may vary from the initial estimate based on the work ultimately required to produce the responsive records.
Payment of Fees
When payment of a fee estimate is required, payment must be made by personal check or bank check payable to the Town of Northborough. It can be dropped off at or mailed to the Northborough Police Department, to the attention of Amie Bullard, Communications & Records Supervisor.
The Town will provide the initial response to a public records request within the time required by Massachusetts Public Records Law. However, when advance payment of an estimated fee is required, chargeable work associated with fulfilling the request will not commence until the required payment has been received.
Additional allowable charges may apply where applicable, including the actual cost of storage media or other materials used to provide records and charges for paper copies as permitted by Massachusetts Public Records Law.
Requesters with questions regarding a fee estimate may contact the Records Access Officer, Amie Bullard. Requesters may also wish to narrow or modify the scope of a request, which may reduce the amount of staff time required and the associated cost.