[Massplanners] Public Records Requests

[Ryan, Christopher]

Hi all

Here's possibly an interesting one...

Belmont uses the NextRequest online public records request system.  Our department specifically receives a dozen or more requests a month and many if not most of them are from contractors or other businesses seeking opportunities to market their services to property owners who might have a building code or zoning violation.

To me, this is using a system purportedly intended for public benefit, to work for (essentially) free to provide data to a private contractor for private purposes. You could argue that it could be a good way to facilitate the disposition of violations. I would disagree.

Does anyone else out there work for a community that has this same dynamic? Have you devised a solution?

We do not have the staff capacity to constantly be working on these requests.

Thanks

Chris R.

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Christopher J. Ryan, AICP
Director of Planning & Building
Town of Belmont
19 Moore Street
Belmont, MA 02478-0900
Tel: 617.993.2658
Email: cryan at belmont-ma.gov<mailto:cryan at belmont-ma.gov>
Web: https://www.belmont-ma.gov/office-of-planning-building
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