By Josh Resnek
City Clerk Sergio Cornelio is preparing to turn over a number of the mayor’s private e-mails to a local news organization following an order from the Secretary of State’s office requiring them to do so.
After first refusing to hand over the mayor’s private e-mails used for public business, the request from MassLive.com was appealed to the Secretary of State’s office.
About two weeks ago, the mayor and Cornelio were given ten days to respond by the state’s supervisor of records, Rebecca Murray.
“The city is working right now to comply with our order,” said a lawyer with the Secretary of State’s office who wished to remain unnamed in response to a query about the situation from the Leader Herald Monday morning.
“They are exceeding the ten days they were given but this is acceptable because they have informed me that they will be providing the information that was asked for on appeal,” added the attorney.
MassLive.com had requested all the mayor’s private e-mails with the key words Wynn, Encore, MGM and or casino sent during the month of May and extending into late June.
It is illegal under state and federal law for the mayor – for any mayor – or elected public official to be using their private e-mail to conduct public business.
It is anyone’s guess what exactly of importance, if anything, will be revealed by an examination of the mayor’s private e-mails as stipulated in the appeal.
One thing is for certain, it is very likely the mayor has stopped using his private e-mail to conduct the city’s public business.