Ashinnd, Dover. Holliston. Hopkinton, Lincoln, Shet?bom. Sudbury, Wayland Access denied Globe West BOSTON SUNDAY GI. oar. APRIL 8, 2001 Bulletin Board Community Briefs in Calendar l-z Sports Public records are treated like private property by many local of?cials, a survey ?nds dmosi states?tatof?eialsaremt reasmioitliemquesi. A Fully complied Gave. but asked Flat out dented Police log I rout m- Aldon! cotton 50,5? 75.3% Fire inspections Total out Moot com m? mm arm 5n" aural: ?mu-m. The way It Is Last week's vote in ramingham showed remarkably little interest in changing much at all. Which goes to Show. somebody must be doing something right. 2 By Sean Patrick Lyons .Lllill William Morris repeatedly .yked for oopiu of plan: from a street repair project in [rent oi his Wayinnd home. For nearly a year. tow-n ot?cinls all but ignored his mum. Donna McDaniel wanted to rad mum of a public meeting she had missed three months earlier In Southbomugh. She was told the dmunent we: not completed and would not be provided. And Robert Busy-due. Wrenthm health baud member. sought the mulu of uncer survey his tow-n conducted. Another bond member re?ned to release the inform-nun. chiming the ?les were con?dent?! While Ill three citizens were ultimately able to uan the pub- lic mien-nation they sou?it utter mite of?cials intervened their experiences are not unique in Boston?s weltern suburbs. A Globe Wm survey oi 37 citiel Ind towns mu the region 1m nee'rly Lhreeout olfourloul ?out state laws designed to allow unfettered ween to public remrde. bureaumu?lt out to my over more than a third 0! Ill the requeined documen . which deullwerthing from how of- ficials spend urp-yen' money to the types of crimes occurring mmununwittinmtutt ?mun. .tt- .t in?. t. . .. . Developing plan In Natick, a developer seeks to build a 10? story, lB3-unit building for affordable housing. which would bring the town's ratio up to 10 percent from 5 percent. Some voice concern. however. over the size and height of the proposed structure. 9 tam mum!- within the community. Rouymly 40 percent nithe ofi?mnls insisted on knowing the re- porter?s identity or the reason lot the request before providing the files. Police in severe] deputments ordered reporters to pmdut'r a driver's license before git-ins out Ute lop. State prohibits such dun-ads beans: they serve only to dis- wunge or intimidete citizens from obuimng public said. Seauaryofsule William F. what: other is rimmed With entordru the mm public mom-d: Minn. School departments were by in: the worst sm?lnws. When reporters Attempted to new records thawing teacher at tendmce rates I We; concern for school districts in the waln- of: nationwide shortage oi subcuth only met-ls in one town. Wellealey. provided the flies with no question: ulted Molt chool department worker: chimed the records were peninnul in nature Ind could not be relented. Although the law mom no exception in keeping the records from public View. Otha' eduution a?eld: cmdidly Acknowledged they prefer to keep the public It erm'a length. ?l would do everything In my power to deny the information.? Quotas. hp 12 How to navigate the system What isu public record? An) trut'. rumiplus include hunks. math. ?Mimi's, fl?l whit-ii mitt-utean I?lk llit rt- .ut- willr inn-nip nunx l'l'LUrll? ~titlt tu-t wnm-l .ilttl .ultln-mu nf propit- 0 request? \?ttu mi: u- .n ,u-w it ll l! dul make .I unlr-r In .mpml .ut- titt- - lw- in I iv-ztr ?x I puuil?iv 0 want the No The spn'itii'JLh illIla hut? tn dutt- -\ll\l -'!'ltllull" "on lung dill lime in ?All to see the rerunlv rhl' lilu \lJlt'i t! . . [mde n?sp?nsv in \Hllr h?ql Ill ti?tl il?lI?HlL?.? l' dent-Hi What ill?) denIt-(P Ynu timi- April-ll titt- l>lt l1 Il?lL' St-t?rt?un ~Il Stun?- Hf'lt'l?. ahlt'h is charged mil: - my: rt-t uni: .in- p: or I'll)? File the ilplk?rll in ?mm lithe Milt?: determini-~ 'ht rut-r155 publtt. It nu? ?tl?tll'i Iuturn nit-r tin durum-nu How much can i be (or nlptet ul publir records? There nn t3 t?it'wtht? . mules. you l-ul cenu per pug:- iur 1T- for mu ruulit' mt cents for computer An agency can .11er rimmi- mint- Lib-Ir tusu anlved nunpilunr the rounds Where cm 1 Ienrn - rnore'.I You out new the Secreun ni' Sute'l public records timxmn Web site at or you can rail the division at 727-2832. - Seer: I yum Marathon woman Shayna Fertillo has always loved the Boston Marathon. but this your her family will party its usual while she runs it herself, l7 t2 Globe West ?We're not perfect." said George King, Framingham's town manager. SUNDAY GLOBE at? nova/mt WM Access denied A survey shows that many local of?cials treat public records like private property tetanus Cmmnuai?vm Put 1 said Mick at In an interview alter th' was rumpletui. "It were a. prob- lem an t-nipliitw not show- work. i ?amid want to lI-Uldil' it Il?ll??lldih?. Otherwise. I would ?ail like llt'il :un not lod- Marty t'tt-cultws suit]. their failure to with the requests iiur- tux llir- (Hulk-R survey were .tbcr- nr their staff's untamihmtv with the luv. There Are .1 lot if lnws?hnt are constantly changing. and yet we it": twinned. to limp up on them.? said Michael Sullivan. Mcd?eld's town admianu-ator. ?i would ruth- er have my staff err on the side at (zutiun than hand out we shouldn't,? Massachusetts, however. hes had statutes public as L155 to smvurnmr-nt records since 1851. and they have not been re- nsod substantially in more than .t qiianer century "The law ha.- ht-en litigated uiiL' Galvin said. ?The parameters an: pretty murh mahiishod.? Dial] the towns surveyed. Med- finld offisz {touted the law most often. Each of the fire depart- ments queried demanded to know the identiry ufth: pemn request- ing U1: intorman'on and what she intruded to do with it. Then. all but one of?cial a Zoning Board clerk refused to rrlusc the think Ll'lL' first drought that crimes to mintl [when ii records n- quest is made} is it someone if ?shing for a law-wit," Sullivan said. ?We an: under threat oi liiw- suirs constantly. When you have ii person coming in risking for re- cords. it naturalli' arouses suspi- dnn.? Warmest; was rib-o an issue lur 1. Colour. Miltord?s town admmistramr. When asked to see his business appointment raicn- diir, among first ques- tions was: ?Arc mu investigating me?? The reporter told him no, but such defensiveness IS not intre- qucnt With public said Kenneth White. uecutive director for Common Causu Muss-chu- setu. a citizen's lobbying group that helped duly: the state's open ?O?entlma when seeking re- cords you ?nd of?cials who feel they need to protect themseh-u or the people who they work with." white raid."Bu1 that creates an tummy appenan of sub try. it people are trying to leu-ri more shut their community and Jenna Run-ell; Globe W- take the time to seek out informa- tion. it isthe ohlipbon ofgnvern- merits mbermponsiw." Lew- ensure accountability According to the suite law. ev- ery document obtained or eluted by any govemmenl official an be viewed by the public. Over the years. some common- uoeptions hue been made. such as the medical remrdsatem- planes or the nemes at people holding gun permits. me Gould. director at the state's public rounds division. said the statutes recognize the vital role public documents pisy in the ability at dams to evlJunte their gm-emmerit Ind learn about ded- sions that effect their community. ?It a citizen unnat loot-m then xuvemment. there is no mum- Do i have to provide identi?- cation when I ask for records? No. State law prohibits iin'icialsl'mmukingyuur identityorthereuonfur yourrtqucstaothnpeopte teeldimungodortntimi- Sf?ld? ability on the pnnotguvemment.? Gould said. "nine law: help in create confidence in our democra- rv. Much of the con?ict over ac- cess to public records in recent years stems from the weiyiing at the public?s right to know shout their government's operltlontt against an individull's privncy minimum. Last yenr. for example. the state's Supreme Judith] Carin shot down I WW reddent?s attempt to it'iZ'l the dila'plintu'y records of mm. The mtdeiit requested the in- formation alter a seventh-yelle- wu suspended for a month for writing rtemu'kl on two female midenu' The mun ?tted the Wu were put at the leeches?: person- nel records. Mitch Ire pm un- dermu law. A teachers' union melanin: :it the time hailed the ruling at? in; 'eduizmn should be emhlu?l to the nine right! of privacy at in; those rights." nid. 'Ftumtsmetntimewemm?ihe when it sense but we mun-lwmbemmdausntmin? Globe?s survey in; largely on the section of the re- provide tiles ere tummy corn-thin and line hour-I Formeoomplumd- ?cinls hnve uptn APRILI. 2001 Wefpt?cmds Astimtl MIA 10% Dull til-40% 60?: 20? (0?6 Hoiston b- at u: Itin??I 2 spam 1 in both instances. officials nmy um mm" the i the msons for which a requm?ter khan? ?mom? rut-r,- Ems 50% l7": 0% White. ofCommon Cause. said mammonofmcl-wwm Hophtton n? hian and. a :ufnt?uh- In and?- to speci?cally prevent ?a climate .4 1 mifwuyvemmtm. ml I youungetuie Indif I "m ?mam. run?cane- i ?i The survey wes conducted h. mostly during Februlry and March. with roughly 20 reporters mud- '4 w" ?lobe Wat ray- 4 2 1 utter-genres. - . The reporters sought six re- w" 33" a? 1? 0? cards in uch town: I phone bill. 0'3th 0' run unit-- run-:- i-u? In. aqu- town or msyor. 1 tucher rounds. I fut inspection. minus: from a recent iumns Md meeting. and WA MA W. [mains nit-e- ?t 2 Reporters were instructed not tutu?n ?l i It to identify themselves or mention i the reason (or their rcqua't: un? lmuk?mdmmurdyifthew ML. 4 1? a I {total would not provide the ?lm 50"- ?a without that inform-lion. (For "We mmhw?m'm'y?f? "stick an. 3* It? ronducted. see the 1 article.) ?l i No ?ansurveyed pmn'ilad all the records in full h? 1 >4 i it 7 Boylemn came the clam. Otl?l- 4 3 0 a 3 ?les herniated without any qua ml- 3" 5'0" ?h tions the only town to do so. Only the school district. which lteeps separate of?ces, felled to it w. ?i .- H. pmdumuw mm. It. 'l tlurtlt we?ve been trying very m? VA W. w? A hand. during the inst few yum to w? stress customer l' Anita tit-rainy. Baytmn'swwned- i t. m: ?title but different i [ruining Ieminln for the stall. and plido?.? tut-Ir- 4 5 0 0 i Ill?l- 30? :09? 50? 0" 9? IT was over about 60 I . I - ?5mm SIM int? u-Il ann- punt?.- cud- only three twins: Medium Sauth- 1 mm. mwmn? m? in Iquuteralofthemwmsurvcyed. every deputment wound i i 7 quest outright or insisting on l' knowmx the xenon tor it before providing thedocumesitl. I 0 0 A typtul uchmabetrwai re Indy- 60?h 0% 0's as porters Ind omen]: will like this n. ynu? Damn. n?n mt?mem "m mt- unri- unit-n- u- nu?n?i- ru- Politx: 'Cen i help you? Int-nil- limbo" wotPullm'wtionreyou?? in mm? "3 t? see Pour-Tm l; hug?u dateyoun?enmewhcyuum? 3 3 1 0 .. Reporter. 60% 60% 60% (H Police: i so: some creden- A?erthe produuadiin Globe idend?ution. the of?cer promptiyoaptedom portinnsof Arndemaiulelpemolthemne?l Mandarin-diamante? uh?hmm?nwipub- then-ethic; roan-roster.me hertz-mumm? bone-1mm. Matthew manning-mum mm. tam-Wethth mmnmumm Irena-intents:qu mm.mm hint-Id:an anthem-rm ,m forthepresr.? maximum-din. mrecords.We mum (in mama} 'The means school other-1: themm' Scranton-timeout we hr their dual-in me am inpurtiiumient at Commonmse?uuchum Therein?unoeoledwnlomv pawn!- Mullah-hither dainmnn-navu-tucher_men- mm-mm-m- - Alflea, 200] Public records are being kept private director of the Muracbusetu cords could not be viewed until Chle? of Police Association. "It alta'nniono?idalopersuodthem And I Swwsecrenry crimes, but what time they are onerepomtdlinshaabemld happening and how frequently. notevuraakthelupalnmdan? shemuldneleuetbe?aunla Plrelnspectionrecordswerc the reporter identi?ed herself. When the the dart naughty athird ofhredepan- tben claimed that o?loa didn't menu that keep Inspection re- Ireqitbereisnds. Mmencuttve rewards-ethanitbomu dim of the Mara-chums Aa- matureqntredtherepomstom sedation for School Superintem n. dams. raid the mach hyachool A tire othdal said he mlnmaethepmnekinx ts. the retards was an ?enemy? of a "I?m not surprised." Martel bruinuandmted to?lealaw- said. "In any type of suit. public work. there's . In those In- IIwayI question: Ifaatrmn mm. the depart- averrhislasue. ment aert- omee ten request that: would be placed in mandala maybe unaware oi certain aspects oI the law. many plead igno- government, theteisno themnipany! file he Iddld. But perhaps no- and run in order to de townhalisdld report- lay the release of in- ers get more grief tormatlon. onthepartof thanin the chides- ?Some people 9 . ethnowihei'uII smut? Overall. more implications of the FRANCE GOULD than no percent luv. but it's not too falladmadheretothe hard to ?nd out." be said. arethase who have In excellent record of Welleslefs School Department was the only school dimin In the Globe?s mm that provided the innards and without any us. "We lteep up?to-date records and have nothing to hide." said Matt King. Welluleys superinten- dent of schools. "We update our sulfromtimetntimelntberuics and apertations with rewnis.? church-mum Ifmosr Ilunlm?l the survey. trinity other depIrt- menta barely earned passing Only about half the towns queried handed mil Zoning Board minutu with no hassles and thosewererheeuim otIIi the re- ordemanduitobowtbeidend?ty of the pension requesting the infor- mation before they would provide it. Authorities in five towns claimed the log was nutter public View, "We inuallysive tbernotrtto the press," I Hopkinton of?cer toldamquister In Maynard. Milford. and Nonhbomusb. reporters had to produneadrlver?siloenseandhave it before polk: hand- edoverthefile. 'I?hat?s one ofthe moat impet? rant room-ch from I public safev dePOlnL' said Scorn DiBlIsi. For more Information To read about re- porters' experi- ences in your com? munity, see i. law when requests {or phone hills and business calendars were made. After a reporter asked to tee a phone bill in SBdburr. I clerk snapped hack: ?Our phone bill is Another reporter who sought the nine records In Watertown Clerk.- "What company do you 7' ReportcrI'Would lbavemrep- mtarmnpanyinorderms? this Inlorrna?on?? Cierlt. "No. but why do you want l1?" Reporter. To: Just doing some research. Douithmaburlnxon whetbalcanaoetheremrds?? Oak: 'No. hummingme The clerk then said that she on precisely what the person wanted.? said Michael Driscoil. Water-townhtawn Ilwuba?erihcsurveym com- pleted. ?We pride ourseivu on be- ingmopera?vc.? George King. Framinsbam?s town manager and a Iorrner lawn derhsaidhebelievedlherequms lyn'nedquesdonstoro?datr. 'We're I bi; town and we give out records all the time." King said. 'But we?re not perfoCL Aal- endaroouidbeseenasaiittie per- sonal. It's not an excuse. but I think it was human nature to ask Why the mumwu beingmade.? During the last ?ve years. the secretary of state's of?ce has logged close to 1.000 appeals statewide by citizens claiming they had been improperly denied records. Tho-e included people such as Donna McDaniel. the Southbor? I BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE Globe Wear 0?51?? Boylston of?cials opened the ?les requested without questions: Jim Goodwin (ie?l. Sandy Bourassa. Mary Jasper. Margo Richardson, Jessica A up. ?mum.? "minnow-mu nun-unum. murmur-mum? donleng. Diane Erickson. and Anita Hegarty. the town administrator. How the survey was conducted Globe Wat's survey was based lamb on the portion at the state's public records law that requires of?cials to pmi'idi- quested during normal business hours. For more complex mums. officials uptolodaysm rapond. in bath Irmanoa. officials "may not re quire the disclosure of the mm for which pub- lic remrd. [or] require pmol of mime tors identity.? Kenneth White. nICommori CALLSC bitm- aditisetts. said that section of the law was added to speci?cally prevent "a Climalt? when: if you gin-e the riin answer. you can Kathe The survey was mnducted mostly during February and March. With muddy '20 report- en {Inning out amass thr- Globe Ween emu-- The reporters wright \Ix m.th ill t'itL'll community: is phone bill. .ui .immintnii-iit lIiillItili .. u. i' While McDaniel mu nblt' to new the records the sought nu. months after all! made her Ianl?l request. and only with the urn? taryofstate's assistance the said the experience had it'll ht-r Iv? [1115011501 berloml u?rctah' 'By say1nx1 muldn?t Are innit~ thing that was so clearly I beniitn public document. it pave the at? pear-aim: that they Vien- trying In hide something.? McDaniel said. ?It made ll seem like it was 'us against them.? like this isn't a do murrary It was tnrailvunnect?s- State inteventiun in dispuin mmnis,hawn'rr. tints .tl- wayngofareriou?i, Man can: handled by Gimme cm are ?solved through mediu- tion or with an order by the office's Iawyus bumpelitnit the agency to providethefilcs. In about lo?ofthmuinstanm during the last five years. the agencies still wuuld nut budge While the attorney general's of?ce issu totheneni'oroetheor- ders. about ball the time it re? Studying spring?s sweet nectar Group taps students? interest in syrup BmeiaeDube Vermont Isn't the only place that produou I?Ine maple syrup. Ind Immunisa- right behind them'lmiddleecbooL unsuurday. at the annual SupitnxO?PeadvaLMeO/rot Land?s?: stout nocprodton- Indayoupofmiddie school students demonstrated how theytakerhe cleartmeup Emmtbeb?dmld- dleselioolinan wooden shack. darkened by a test New Wmeranthabeip the the?. QT nplainal to ash adult and oh?dwhnunderu?l throu?i how the juiou from the mph-maple ueebeoomesyrup. The lap Is taken from sugar maples scattered around the ?We have dim-an prop- ertiu; some of than Ire private land owners and other: are on mownod Iaidlnanlnrervlew. This year. Cyr'l Land's me school tapping the maples on Feb. to. spring and before the trees In! 03.1?! Alta- tapping in ?nished.? Cyrand backand let naruretakeoyer. 'niertwhuyuu need are freezing cold night: lol- lowedhysunnydayam?e?lnx and thawing creates I action that ear-rig the up from memondleedsthebudsonihe That pumping action also bring: the fluid out through the tapand lntnasredbuchetbanc- pmdoem?tdepletetbemof rhetraap.?Wetakeaveryr.malI ?peruntam'mrsa?'lhcrulal the rutol'therree Somepoople ennui: aura the ldul lap now. ?We in the day Is possible so that It doun?t freeze in the buaets It W'Wehavealntalolalmon scoops MIG/ream. ?dumber-log ithnl ?Wu?n- nul or rubber rump in: the secretary at state." \dltl Fim A?hL?iaJ'Il Attorney Gemini th'blin mmrtimrs hnrt- frn?nt interpmauumuithr tau Tb.? Ir? it up in [llu' uihur complainaan in talu- thi- lime and be.? the I'lpt?ns?t? nl brinirinpr sguncr in court. Which publir .ir'rc~s new As a key ?murmurs in 'Jii- rt- minis law. "It?s been ii pmb? lt-m." Galvin said. ?There hatr- been disagreement; between us and [item over what constitutes mine public records. Sometimes the cases have the of?ce. and they aren?t about in take themscivmto murL" The mationsbip between the user the issue new more tense lm fall, when Artur trey General Thomn Reilly sup ported I promised bill that would allow shit? and local agencits to keep from public View documents that are or could be involved in calendar at tho town manazt?r nr mainr. a - ?re inspection, minutes n! .. rt-u?nl mning bonrti meeting. lt-nr'lir-r numb. 'lhe files. verified as the urn- tzry of State's ul?fu'e and Globe lawyers. m-rv wit-crud based upon mmparativt' Law: In ??l?lit'h they could bermch and tin-1r importance in ritiuans Teacher attendance, for i'tanipie. l\ m? m-mingiy pmbli-maur for ?bail dim-ins A run-m study by tho US Department of Education that milion Duhlit? school ?mirran attend (LBW) substitutrs each day. and that number Those records are typically held in ?r school department's payroll attire. Another document uiiutht details of at: (WM taken by zoning boards during thrir rim-tiny: Thin-innimiruvsm increasingly by n'sidcritx in an itn-u ?bun- 'illvl'l' building [I?I'Hllb luiir been round in til the state. mount than Just about my other region Mt? keep ?li's uI minutes Willi l'llhI?T the town t'll?lk ur tn .i 70"an board of?ce And puiin- lop. [mind at tile rIr-slt of must pulir't? All: .i primer) ?um; lur mourning crimr- patients Within nativihiirhi-ids. lilliEIliUn the Mir (bdrm Illt'nL'vlln', xiinnx it could return .mi-is In the must public numb. surii .u libil?fuurb, hilt-r barrio-ti may lrtirn the [impose], arid the: (Wu dirt-rims now workinxtui a nit-Mun.- thiil would allow tn limit public tn mm;- legal docunir-an. hunt-rep helium {ii- turr- mn?im could be amidrtl if the stall: established an indent-n dent public rrmnis commission The commission be rnvmuns would have the Ln ni-ticr agenda to produce public recruits they rind talu- rcmich tram uf?t?laLs to mun, Sevch including Con necticut. have creator] similar Coupled I broader ?Tort to educate memment workers. the secretary at state said the com- mLmon would form: o??icials hi be- come more aware of their obliga- erurtutm- tilrt?t?lur of the Our-wa Polio: Autumn. "that'siinu ith'lL' mirximiir Irnm a public salon standpoint.? Drillasi \altl "it not only you the nl rrimcs. but what time they im- and bow ii'rjimnrai Reprint-rs were instructed not to itit'ntih themselits nr the minim Iur their requests Unitas ailmd. and then only if Ult? nir timid would nut pnwuir the fill.? unthnur rm information i 'iil\~ rium iII'itlt'l' the law. and mu line the Alumni prim-m for i'L'l'Is "it ?Niki .riluu iur liitixhi'r w: ?(Ill-1n cud ?It would 31- (mum-ti vainly on the i.er nix? mg bout-r Mom in lili'ir .inil ri-tiur't- stir in- mmisicnnus that iiuwuxut. the commission last you but it tilt-d in mmniitti-t' lIr- Btu n-suhmittcd tht' bill fur the my. rent lqurlsuvr ?mum, Kr-nnr-tli whit.- ui t'unmmu Cause said that nut the truly tit-p numiril to unlock local Kin-urn- mrnt?i' doom ?M?hnt LS mutt tit-cried is for [hp public in pcr?lhlt'nlly demand ripen amt aim-subh- gm'rrnnieni m- \itid. ?If not. the greater them Will bi-betvm-n Lb:- trump-r .riiti their Anti mutt-1y, wit-1] low fiutii our Lll' urinary.? Srun run he Harlin.? riynru-gginlw mm Steam rim from ashack behind Wu?mn's middle Ichooi. where students make maple syrup. ?We can gather as rnurh Is 600 The say is tonight bad to the sugar shack and put into holding into I wood-tired evaporator and boiled until it melts about 2I9 degrees Fahrenheit. you're trying to boil the water out at the ryrup until it condenses The fresh up is about 98 percent water. Orr bid. The re? trialth I percent is made up at minerals and sugars. 'About so gallons of up will produce one gnIlouoIsyrup." However. said. that amount an vary due tn mvirnn- mental factors, the dine at year. andtheloun?on andheaithotthe n'ecs. When the ryrup is ready, ter. It! then paint-d into bottla or containers and sold at shack The remaining syrup Will be sold at land's Salte's organic surnm? farm mod. it 30 Saturday momu-ix. it didn't look like there would be anything left over Ior the Iarm Middle school mapleuryrup makers and volunteers Maureen French. Jake Merrill. Crian FIhey. Alex Rodday. and Cecillia l.ui spent the rooming at the eon-am: isbed syrup In WW vhitors. 1! W2