Source: https://www.ecode360.com/6788011
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 04:20:58+00:00

Document:
§ 87-2 Custodian of records; records request form.
§ 87-3 Inspection and copying of public records.
§ 87-4 Time limits for compliance.
§ 87-5 Posting of appeals procedure.
§ 87-6 Viewing of government records; removal prohibited.
§ 87-7 Procedures and fees for purchasing copies of public records.
§ 87-8 Requests for discovery.
§ 87-10 Discovery outside the Borough.
It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this Borough of Alpha to recognize the public's general right to know pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.). All records kept in the course of official duties by any Borough officer or employee shall be deemed to be "government records," as that term is defined by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, and such records shall be subject to inspection by the public unless exempt under the statute or other regulation, common law practice, executive order of the Governor, Rules of Court, federal law or judicial decision.
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, the Municipal Clerk is designated as the custodian of records. The Clerk shall adopt a form for the use of any person who requests access to a record, and such form shall contain all of the information required by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5f.
Any person seeking to inspect, examine or copy a public record of this municipality shall make application in writing to the Municipal Clerk, during regular business hours, on the form provided. All requests for public records shall be as specific as possible, including the type of record and date created, if known.
The Municipal Clerk shall promptly comply with a request to inspect, examine, copy or provide a copy of a government record. If the Clerk is unable to comply with a request for access, he or she shall indicate on the request form the specific basis for such inability to comply and shall promptly return it to the requestor. The Clerk shall sign and date the form and provide the requestor with a copy thereof.
In those instances where the nature of the request or the record itself leads the Municipal Clerk to doubt whether or not the record is a government record as defined by law or is a record exempt from disclosure, the Clerk shall request an opinion from the Municipal Attorney. A copy of the request form shall be forwarded to the Attorney who, after review and investigation, shall issue an opinion and note such opinion on the request form and promptly return it to the Municipal Clerk.
If any part of a particular record is exempt from public access pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., the Clerk shall delete, redact or excise from a copy of the record that portion which is exempt from access and shall promptly permit access to the remainder of the record.
If the record requested is temporarily unavailable because it is in use or in storage, the Clerk shall so advise the requestor and shall make arrangements to make a copy of the record available.
If a request for access to a government record would substantially disrupt municipal operations, the Clerk may deny access to the record after attempting to reach a reasonable solution with the requestor that accommodates the interests of the requestor and the municipality.
As required by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5e, immediate access shall be granted for access to budgets, bills, vouchers, contracts (including collective negotiations agreements and individual employment contracts), and public salary and overtime information.
Unless a shorter time period is otherwise provided by statute, regulation or executive order, the Clerk shall grant access to a government record or deny a request for access to a record as soon as possible, but not later than seven business days after receiving the request, provided that the record is currently available and not in storage or archived. In the event that the Clerk fails to respond within seven business days after receiving a request, the failure to respond shall be deemed a denial of the request, unless the requestor has elected not to provide a name, address or telephone number, or other means of contacting the requestor. If the requestor has elected not to provide a name, address, or telephone number, or other means of contacting the requestor, the Clerk shall not be required to respond until the requestor reappears before the custodian seeking a response to the original request. If the government record is in storage or archived, the requestor shall be so advised within seven business days after the Clerk receives the request. The requestor shall be advised by the Clerk when the record can be made available. If the record is not made available by that time, access shall be deemed denied.
The Clerk shall post prominently in public view, in or adjacent to the Clerk's office, a statement that sets forth in clear, concise and specific terms the right to appeal a denial of or failure to provide access to a government record and the procedure by which an appeal may be filed.
Upon the approval of a request to view, inspect, examine or copy a record, the record and the requestor shall remain in the presence of the Municipal Clerk or his or her authorized representative at all times. Under no circumstances shall any government record be removed from the office where the custodian or his or her authorized representative normally keeps it unless accompanied.
In the event that the nature of a request to view records requires that the Clerk or other municipal employee observe or monitor such viewing for a period of time exceeding one hour, the requestor shall be responsible for reimbursing the municipality for time spent by the Clerk or other employee.
Standard-sized paper documents, up to 8 1/2 x 14 inches in size: $0.05 per page.
Large-sized paper documents and maps.
Drug-Free School Zone Map: $1.
Copy of the Code book: $174 (includes shipping and handling).
Police accident reports: same as Subsection A above, if requested and picked up in person.
Police accident reports, when copies are requested other than in person: $4 for the first three pages and $1 per page for each additional page, as established by N.J.S.A. 39:4-131.
Tape supplied by requestor: $25.
Tape supplied by municipality: $30.
Tape supplied by requestor: $15.
Tape supplied by municipality: $20.
Copy of electronic document or database. The following fees cover the cost of copying existing files to a CD. Any requests for software conversions shall be subject to the special service charge described in Subsection F below. For security reasons, the use of a CD provided by the requestor is prohibited.
Copy of Alpha Borough’s 100th Anniversary Book, if available: $25.
A special service charge shall be imposed, in addition to the actual cost of duplicating the record, where the nature, format, manner of collation or volume of printed matter is such that it cannot be reproduced by ordinary document-copying equipment in ordinary business size or where such record involves an extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate the request. The requestor shall have the opportunity to review and object to the special service charge prior to it being incurred.
Applicable postage shall be added for any and all records requested by mail. There shall be a charge of $5 for the shipping of each copy of Alpha Borough’s 100th Anniversary Book, representing the postage cost.
Certified copy of birth, marriage or death certificate: $15 per copy.
Certification of birth, marriage or death certificate: $15 per copy.
Photocopy of correction of birth, marriage or death certificate: $15 per copy.
Correction to record of birth, marriage or death certificate: $20 per correction.
Certified copy of domestic partnership certificate: $15 per copy.
Editor's Note: This ordinance further stated that the fees specified herein shall be charged beginning 1-1-2004.
A deposit shall be paid prior to filling any anonymous request where it is estimated that the information requested will cost in excess of $5 to reproduce. The amount of the deposit shall equal the total estimated cost of filling the request.
All requests for discovery in Municipal Court matters pending in the Municipal Court of the Borough of Alpha shall be submitted through the Municipal Prosecutor, to the extent possible.
Seventy-five cents per page for each of the first 10 pages photocopied.
Fifty cents per page for each of the next 10 pages photocopied.
Twenty-five cents per page for each of the pages photocopied thereafter.
Actual postage for any discovery sent by mail or services.
Twenty-five cents for the envelope for any discovery sent by mail or service.
Photographs will be photocopied, if permissible, at the rates established herein. If requests are made for duplicate photographs, the actual cost of making or duplicating the photographs shall be charged.
Duplication of videotapes, audiotapes, CD's and/or DVD's constitutes an extraordinary duplication process and requestors shall be charged at the rate of $5 per videotape, audiotape, CD and/or DVD.
If any item cannot be properly photocopied by the Borough using its equipment or is not otherwise provided for in this schedule the actual cost or costs incurred in mailing same shall be charged.
Where the discovery must be obtained from an entity other than the Borough of Alpha, e.g., another police department, the actual cost(s) paid to the other entity shall be charged to and paid by the requestor.

References: § 87

§ 87

§ 87

§ 87

§ 87

§ 87

§ 87