Baker concerned about 'Public Records Test' results
More than half of communities did not respond to one or both requests within 10 days, as required by law
Gov. Charlie Baker is calling for increased education about the state's public records law for cities and towns that received a failing grade on the Northeastern University "Public Records Test" conducted in partnership with 5 Investigates and the Boston Globe.
"Do you think cities and towns need to do a better job responding to public records requests?" asked 5 Investigates' Mike Beaudet.
"Well I would say cities and towns need to abide by the law and in many cases need to be able to turn those procedures around far more quickly," said Baker.
On Sunday, 5 Investigates and the Globe reported that Northeastern students asked the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts for the annual payroll showing how much employees earn and the police department's policy for when officers can use their weapons. Fifty-eight percent of communities did not respond to one or both requests within 10 days, as required by law.
That includes Brookfield where the treasurer offered the payroll to 5 Investigates in person, but only after Beaudet showed up at her office, two months after the request was made.
"It seems like you could have just mailed this off back then?" Beaudet asked treasurer Sandra Kady.
"I had no time to do it," replied Kady.
"I was particularly surprised to see the information with respect to payroll. That to me seems to be a pretty standard operating procedure for most cities and towns," said Baker. "But what it made me think is that you may have a bunch of cities and towns that may not know what the requirements are to begin with."
Baker and the Massachusetts Municipal Association are both now saying they want to work together so communities understand the public records law on the books and any changes that may be coming.
Attorney General Maura Healey is also reacting to the investigation by once again pushing for a new law, a spokesperson telling 5 Investigates: "The attorney general believes government should be transparent and accessible to the public and that the time has come to update and modernize our public records laws."
On Beacon Hill, the House has already passed a public records reform bill. The Senate is expected to take it up early next year and go even further. Gov. Baker told 5 Investigates he hopes to be able to sign a new bill into law this legislative session.