Source: http://www.ecode360.com/9105953
Timestamp: 2017-08-17 08:03:08
Document Index: 285100967

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 249', '§ 249', '§ 249', '§ 249', '§ 249', '§ 249', '§ 249', '§ 2']

Township of Freehold, NJ Public Records, Access to
§ 249-1 Policy.
§ 249-2 Custodian of records; records request form.
§ 249-3 Inspection and copying of public records.
§ 249-4 Time limits for compliance.
§ 249-5 Posting of appeals procedure.
§ 249-6 Viewing of government records; removal prohibited.
§ 249-7 Procedures and fees for purchasing copies of public records.
Chapter 249: Public Records, Access to
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Freehold by Ord. No. O-02-31 (§ 2-24 of the Revised General Ordinances); amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
Chapter 249 : Public Records, Access to
It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this Township 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 Township 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-5(f).
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.
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 it is normally kept unless accompanied by the custodian or his or her authorized representative.
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 0.5 hour, the requestor shall be responsible for reimbursing the municipality for time spent by the Clerk or other employee.
Copies of records may be purchased for the fee prescribed by law or regulation. If a fee is not prescribed by law or regulation, the fee shall be the actual cost of duplicating the record; provided, however, that where the actual cost for duplication of a record exceeds the rates in Chapter 150, Fees, the actual cost shall be imposed.