Editor’s Note: Sunshine Request makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Other (indicate in message) Submitted: August 29, 2023 | Updated: November 1, 2023
(August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.
Good afternoon Partners Health Management (Records Officers / Custodian of Records), Tammy and Bob CCed,
Please reply promptly to the following public records request, which is being made in accordance with NC Public Records Law.
Ref: https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html
** I’m simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I am NOT asking for the opportunity to come in person to inspect, nor to obtain a printed copy of, these electronic records. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via the electronic medium / electronic format (in which the copy of these records should already exist).
I do not have any further clarifying info I wish to provide to narrow this request. If the request is unclear, or if you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of the request, then please specifically cite where a reason for its denial is justified under NC Public Records Law. **
This request is specifically related to Partners Health Management located at 901 S New Hope Rd., Gastonia, NC 28054.
According to your website, “The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services contracts with Partners to manage behavioral health care services paid with federal, state, and local taxes. The sources of those funds include Medicaid (1915 (b)/(c) Medicaid Waiver), state and county funding, and grants.” https://www.partnersbhm.org/about-us/#OurMission
With this in mind – Please provide the salaries or pay rates for ALL current employees of Partners Health Management at the Gastonia location. As of 08/29/23 or present day (date the query is performed). Please include the following:
1) Employee First / Last name
2) Date of Hire
3) Position / Title / Department
4) Current salary (include salary / yearly amount, hourly wage / rate of pay – whichever pay structure is applicable to the employee)
Ideally, I’d like to receive the responsive records in an Excel or machine-readable format, if possible.
If any / all of this info is already publicly available online, please provide a link to where it can be accessed.
——————
** Please note that by submitting this request, I’m NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it isn’t possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and explanations for those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I respond.
By Law I’m not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816
The request has been sent solely from the email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from me or my Team. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of my request – I intend to continue to pursue my request.
Thank you for your assistance!
Status: Government Denied Request
Activity:
-
November 1, 2023 5:04 pm
6 months ago
from: Beth Brooks <[email protected]> via partnersbhm.onmicrosoft.com
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: Nov 1, 2023, 5:04 PM
subject: Automatic reply: Following up again. RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.Hello and thank you for your email. I will be out of the office attending a conference with limited accesss to my emails beginning Monday October 27, 2023 and will respond to all messages upon my return on Monday, November 6, 2023. For Member and Provider Services, dial (888) 235-4673. If you are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, we’re here to support you. Call Partners’ new Behavioral Health Crisis Line, 833-353-2093 for immediate assistance.
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this communication is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by phone or e-mail.
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: [email protected]
cc: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
date: Nov 1, 2023, 5:04 PM
subject: Re: Following up again. RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.Hello again Cyndy, all others CCed,
I submitted the following public records request to your offices on August 29th, 2023 @ 6:47 PM:
Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.The only response I’ve received to-date, was from Cyndy on August 30th @ 10:27 AM:
“We have received your request and will be back in touch with ability to fulfill and timeline for fulfillment.”Since that time, I have not received any reply in the past 2+ months to any of the follow up messages or emails I’ve sent to you all through the records portal (https://web1.zixmail.net/s/welcome.jsp?b=partnersbhm) or the email thread above.
The type of basic salary data I requested from you is very simple to provide, is commonly produced, and is widely considered a matter of public record as part of the public personnel file of employees. Many entities around the state fulfill requests like this via email in 1 week, and in many cases 1 day. Under NC Public Records Law, you are required to “promptly” process all public records requests. I’m concerned that you may be intentionally delaying or ignoring the fulfillment of requests by allowing them to “sit” until staff has availability, or feels like addressing my messages.
With this in mind, I want to highlight the court case referenced in item #6 of the following article, posted on the NC Press Association website. In this instance: “The trial court held that an unjustified one-month delay in production of records was tantamount to a denial”. http://www.ncpress.com/stories/a-bakers-dozen-for-2022nc-public-records-law,2390
Having made all reasonable attempts to follow up with you, and having received no response — I’m going to now mark this request as having been “Denied” by your organization. I would highly recommend that Partners Health Management revisists their current public records request fulfillment process to ensure that you’re in compliance with the Law, and that you fulfill and respond to all requests in a timely manner.
Thank you.
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Government Denied Request -
October 24, 2023 12:53 pm
6 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: [email protected]
cc: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
date: Oct 24, 2023, 12:53 PM
subject: Re: Following up again. RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.Good afternoon Cyndy, and all others CCed,
Please reply promptly.
This is my 4th and final attempt to follow up with you regarding my public records request. It was first submitted to your offices on Aug 29, 2023 @ 6:47 PM.
Subject: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.
———The last I heard from anyone (or received a response) was from Cyndy on August 30 @ 10:27AM: “We have received your request and will be back in touch with ability to fulfill and timeline for fulfillment.”
Since that time, I have not heard anything else. Nor have I received a response to any of the follow up messages I’ve sent to you all through the records portal (or in the email thread above) over the past two months.
https://web1.zixmail.net/s/welcome.jsp?b=partnersbhmPlease provide an anticipated date for the completion of this public records request.
The type of basic salary data I’ve requested is simple to provide, is very commonly produced, and is widely considered a matter of public record as part of the public personnel file of employees. Many entities around the state fulfill requests like this via email in 1 week, and in many cases 1 day.
I will follow up again in 1 week, if I do not hear anything else before then. At that point, if I still have not heard back I will mark this request as having been “denied” by your organization.
Thank you.
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Follow up -
October 11, 2023 3:53 pm
6 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: [email protected]
cc: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
date: Oct 11, 2023, 3:53 PM
subject: Following up again. RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.Hello Cyndy and all others CCed,
I’m following up again regarding my public records request. It was first sent to your offices on Aug 29, 2023 @ 6:47 PM.
The last I heard (or received any response) was from Cyndy on August 30: “We have received your request and will be back in touch with ability to fulfill and timeline for fulfillment.”
Since that time, I have not heard anything, nor have I received a response to any of the follow up messages I’ve sent to you all through the records portal:
https://web1.zixmail.net/s/welcome.jsp?b=partnersbhmTherefore, I must email you directly in order to discuss this request.
Please provide an anticipated date for the completion of this request.
I will follow up again later this month, if I have not heard back before then.
Thank you.
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Follow up -
October 3, 2023 4:45 pm
6 months ago
Sent: Oct 3, 2023 4:45 PM
Expires: Nov 2, 2023 4:45 PM
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Following up again. RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.Good afternoon Cyndy and all others CCed,
I have removed Bob Hovis from this thread, since his email address does not seem to work.
I’m following up again on my public records request. It was first sent to your offices on Aug 29, 2023, 6:47 PM.
(August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.The last I heard (or received any response) was from Cyndy on August 30: “We have received your request and will be back in touch with ability to fulfill and timeline for fulfillment.”
Please provide an anticipated date for the completion of this request.
I will follow up again in 1 week, if I have not heard back before then.
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Follow up -
September 30, 2023 12:25 pm
7 months ago
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: Sep 30, 2023, 12:25 PM
subject: EXPIRED: RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.Partners Health Management Message Expiration Notification:
To:
Cc: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.
Arrived on: Aug 31, 2023 @ 16:25 (GMT)
Expired on: Sep 30, 2023 @ 16:25 (GMT)The following recipients failed to pickup the message above:
Status: Government Processing Request -
September 14, 2023 4:03 pm
7 months ago
Sent: Sep 14, 2023 1:03 PM
Expires: Oct 14, 2023 4:03 PM
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.Hi Cyndy,
I hope you’ve been well.
I’m just following up on my public records request. First sent to your offices on Aug 29, 2023, 6:47 PM
(August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.Can you please provide an anticipated date or approximate timeline for the completion of this request?
I’ll check in with you again later this month, if I have not heard anything else before then.
Thank you!
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Follow up -
September 3, 2023 12:26 pm
7 months ago
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: Sep 3, 2023, 12:26 PM
subject: Partners Health Management Message Unread NoticeA secure message you sent 3 days ago remains unread by at least one of the recipients. Please use the details shown below to help you identify the message and the people who did not read the message.
The following recipients did not read the message:
Message Details:
To:
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.
Sent: Aug 31, 2023 @ 16:25 (GMT)Please do not reply to this email message. The return address is not monitored.
Status: Government Processing Request -
August 31, 2023 12:24 pm
8 months ago
Sent: Aug 31, 2023 12:24 PM
Expires: Sep 30, 2023 12:24 PM
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.Hi Cindy,
Thank you for confirming receipt of my request.
I will follow up with you again in another week or so, if I do not hear anything else before then.
Thank you!
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Government Processing Request -
August 30, 2023 10:27 am
8 months ago
Received: Aug 30, 2023 10:27 AM
Expires: Sep 29, 2023 10:27 AM
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Cc: [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: RE: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health
Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.This message was sent securely using Zix ®
Thank you for reaching out to Partners. We have received your request and will be back in touch with ability to fulfill and timeline for fulfillment.
Regards,
Cyndy Brooks
Director Marketing and Communication
Status: Government Processing Request -
August 29, 2023 6:47 pm
8 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: [email protected]
cc: [email protected], [email protected]
date: Aug 29, 2023, 6:47 PM
subject: Records Request: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.Good afternoon Partners Health Management (Records Officers / Custodian of Records), Tammy and Bob CCed,
I’d like to make a public records request for information that may be available in your office.
If you’re not the appropriate party to contact about the request, please provide the correct name and email address of whom I should send it to.
Please confirm receipt to let me know the request will begin processing, and if possible, please provide a rough estimate of when the request may be completed. I will plan on following up again soon if I have not heard back before then.
Here are the details of the request:
Subject: (August 2023) Request for Partners Health Management in Gastonia, NC: All current employees and salaries as of 08/29/23 or present day.
Message: “Good afternoon Partners Health Management (Records Officers / Custodian of Records), Tammy and Bob CCed,
Please reply promptly to the following public records request, which is being made in accordance with NC Public Records Law.
Ref: https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html** I’m simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I am NOT asking for the opportunity to come in person to inspect, nor to obtain a printed copy of, these electronic records. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via the electronic medium / electronic format (in which the copy of these records should already exist).
I do not have any further clarifying info I wish to provide to narrow this request. If the request is unclear, or if you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of the request, then please specifically cite where a reason for its denial is justified under NC Public Records Law. **
This request is specifically related to Partners Health Management located at 901 S New Hope Rd., Gastonia, NC 28054.
According to your website, “The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services contracts with Partners to manage behavioral health care services paid with federal, state, and local taxes. The sources of those funds include Medicaid (1915 (b)/(c) Medicaid Waiver), state and county funding, and grants.” https://www.partnersbhm.org/about-us/#OurMission
With this in mind – Please provide the salaries or pay rates for ALL current employees of Partners Health Management at the Gastonia location. As of 08/29/23 or present day (date the query is performed). Please include the following:
1) Employee First / Last name
2) Date of Hire
3) Position / Title / Department
4) Current salary (include salary / yearly amount, hourly wage / rate of pay – whichever pay structure is applicable to the employee)Ideally, I’d like to receive the responsive records in an Excel or machine-readable format, if possible.
If any / all of this info is already publicly available online, please provide a link to where it can be accessed.
——————** Please note that by submitting this request, I’m NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it isn’t possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and explanations for those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I respond.
By Law I’m not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816The request has been sent solely from the email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from me or my Team. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of my request – I intend to continue to pursue my request.
Thank you for your assistance!”
Thank you!
** Sunshine Request (www.sunshinerequest.com) makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Status: Sent to Government -
August 29, 2023 2:40 pm
8 months ago
Submitted to Sunshine Request
Status: Pending