Attorney General responds to council's inquiry
Date: 2/11/2013
By Carley Dangona
carley@thereminder.comWEST SPRINGFIELD — The Town Council is hoping that it has fulfilled Mayor Gregory Neffinger's requirements to request financial information.
At a regular meeting on Feb. 4, a majority of the Town Council voted to request multiple financial documents from the town accountant, for review in preparation of the upcoming fiscal year 2014 budget creation.
The councilors also agreed to allow Neffinger 10 days to respond the request, as designated by the Massachusetts Public Records Law.
In a letter dated Jan. 16, the mayor requested the vote, stating that the charter defines "council" in the plural therefore requiring a vote to approve the records request.
"I still have a lot of hope," Council President Kathleen Bourque said. "I am cautiously optimistic that he [Neffinger] will hold up his end of the bargain now that we have complied with his request."
Prior to the vote, the council discussed the response from the Attorney General's office to the letter Bourque filed on Jan. 29.
According to Bourque, the response stated that the office could not offer advice in regards to the lack of access the councilors had to information regarding fiscal operations.
Bourque explained that the council has other options if the accessibility to town documents and records remains impeded. The council can seek advice from the Massachusetts Municipal Association, hire an additional attorney for a second opinion or it can file a complaint with the Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division.
"The last thing I want to do is file a complaint," Bourque said.
