Making a request for Public Records

The Massachusetts Public Records Law (Law), found under Chapter 66, Section 10 of the Massachusetts General Laws, applies to records made or received by a Massachusetts governmental entity. Unless the requested records fall under an exemption to the Law, the responsive documents must be made available to the requester. A list of exemptions may be found under Chapter 4, Section 7(26) of the Massachusetts General Laws.
 
On June 3, 2016, Governor Baker signed An Act to Improve Public Records into law. Provisions in the new law took effect on January 1, 2017, for more information please refer to the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Website at: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/prenotice.htm
 
Under the new provisions, agencies and municipalities are required to designate 1 or more Records Access Officer (RAO). The RAO has a duty to:

• Coordinate the agency’s or municipality’s response to requests for access to public records;
• Assist individuals seeking public records in identifying the records requested;
• Assist the custodian of records in preserving public records; and
• Prepare guidelines that enable requestors to make informed requests.

Pursuant to the Public Records Law, the following person has been designated as the Records Access Officer (RAO) for the City of Westfield.  All public records requests should be directed to this person using the contact information below.  Public records requests may be made in-person, via first class mail, fax or electronic mail.

Robyn Gay, Records Access Officer 
City Solicitor’s Officer
59 Court Street
Westfield, MA 01085
Phone: (413) 572-6260   Fax: (413) 568-6745
r.gay@cityofwestfield.org
Request Form