NJFOG hosts April 26 discussion on state’s open public records, meetings laws

Want to learn more about how to make a proper OPRA request and what records you can access? Want to ensure your town better complies with public meeting rules?

Join the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government at the Cranford Community Center the evening of April 26th for a discussion of the state’s open public records and meetings laws (OPRA and OPMA). This event is being provided at no cost to attendees thanks to our sponsor, the Union County Watchdog Association (UCWA).

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What police records should be public? New Jersey Supreme Court to decide

New Jersey's highest court is weighing whether police departments should be given broad discretion over which documents to release under the state's public records laws.

News organizations and civil liberties advocates say a decision in the case, which involves records from a police shooting requested by a media company, will have broad implications for transparency in New Jersey.

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New Jersey city admits open records violation, must pay $5K in legal fees

The city of Bayonne, New Jersey, has admitted that it didn't clearly explain why it denied part of an open public records request and will be paying $5,000 in legal fees to resolve a lawsuit over the matter.

The city's Feb. 22 admission comes about a month after it said in an opposition brief that it "provided an appropriate and lawful response" to the request.

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Court nixes attempt to obtain records on Christie’s travel

A New Jersey appeals court ruled in favor of Gov. Chris Christie's office Thursday in a dispute over a reporter's request for the governor's out-of-state travel expense records.

The three-judge panel held reporter Mark Lagerkvist's request exceeded the limits of New Jersey's Open Public Records Act.

Last year, Lagerkvist requested records of Christie's travel to third-party-funded events, including who paid for his travel. The records custodian said it was not specific enough and denied the request.

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Fair Lawn Council opposes changes to Open Public Records Act

From NorthJersey.com:

The governing body opposed revisions to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) over claims the legislation would make government "less effective."

An open government activist, however, contends that the borough has raised "non-issues" and "red herrings" in order to mislead the public.

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Decision on lawsuit may take months

From Asbury Park Press:

When exactly can the information floating inside a computer be considered a “government record” that is open to public inspection? It’s a question being considered by the courts as a result of a lawsuit by the Gannett New Jersey newspapers against the small Somerset County borough of Raritan.

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