Public Records-Request & Records Retention Schedule Guide

An Act to Improve Public Records, Chapter 121, Acts of 2016 was signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker with many of the provisions set to take effect on January 1, 2017. The New Public Records Law created the position of a Records Access Officer(s) (RAO). The RAO's duties consists of coordinating a response to public record requests, assisting individuals seeking public records access, maintaining records of the requests, and preparing guidelines for the process. 

In compliance with the law, the Lakeville Select Board have appointed the Town Clerk, Lillian M. Drane as the Super Records Access Officer (SRAO) and in addition, appointed the town department heads as Record Access Clerks.

Effective January 1, 2017, all Public Records request for the Town of Lakeville must be submitted to the Super Records Access Officer (Town Clerk) who will record all requests made and then forward the requests to the Record Access Clerks to process.

Fee Estimate (See -"A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law")

As permitted by law, you will be charged for employee search time (where required by statute), which is charged at the hourly rate of the lowest paid person capable of compiling, segregating, redacting, and reproducing responsive records, in accordance with 950 CMR 32.07(2)(i).  The employee time is charged at the hourly rate of the lowest paid person capable of searching for the responsive records, in accordance with 950 CMR 32.07(2)(i), which shall not exceed $25.00 per hour, unless otherwise authorized by the Supervisor of Records.  Moreover, because the Town has fewer than 20,000 residents, pursuant to the last Decennial U.S. Census, you will be charged for all work associated with this request. 

Please note that the actual cost of producing the records may vary once the Town begins preparing the records for response.  The records available may not be an electronic format, and accordingly, you will be charged copying charges at the rate of $.05 per page if applicable.

All written request forms can be submitted the following ways:

• By mail, to: Town of Lakeville, Lillian M. Drane, Town Clerk/SRAO, 346 Bedford Street, Lakeville, MA 02347
• In-person, to: Lillian M. Drane, Town Clerk/SRAO, 346 Bedford Street, Lakeville, MA 02347
• By email

Please contact the Town Clerk/SRAO with any questions regarding the process at 508-946-8800. Below is a Public Records Request Form and Guidelines, as well as a few helpful Public Record links:

• Lakeville Public Records Request Form
• Town of Lakeville Public Records Guidelines

Helpful Links

• A Guide to Massachusetts Public Records Law
• Appeal a Denial of Access to Public Records
• Municipal Records Retention Schedule- September 1, 2022
• Electronic Records Management Guidelines
• Public Records FAQs