OPRA INFORMATION
1. State Law and Borough procedures requires that requests for access to government records be submitted on the Borough's form. Requests should be completed in full and submitted to the Custodian of Records utilitzing the web enabled form. You may also print the form and submit it in person during regular Borough business hours or by mail to the address on the form. The Borough is unable to accept submissions of a request by fax or email. Your request is not considered filed until the Custodian of Records has received a completed request form. If you submit this request form to any other officer or employee of the Borough of Longport, that officer or employee does not have the authority to accept your request form on behalf of the Borough of Longport and your request will be directed to the Custodian of Records.
2. If you submit a request for access to government records to someone other than the appropriate custodian, do not complete the Borough of Longport request form, or attempt to make a request for access by telephone or fax; the Open Public Records Act and its deadlines, restrictions and remedies will not apply to your request.
3. The fees for duplication of a government record in printed form are listed on the front of this form. We will notify you of any special charges, special service charges or other additional charges authorized by State law or regulation before processing your request. Payment shall be made by cash, check, money order payable to the Borough of Longport. We do not accept credit cards. NOTE: There is litigation pending regarding the proper fee to be charged for copies. Pending the outcome of that litigation, your actual fees may be less than those printed on this form.
4. If it is necessary for the records custodian to contact you concerning your request, providing identifying information, such as your name, address and telephone number or an e-mail address is required. Where contact is not necessary, anonymous requests are permitted; except that anonymous requests for personal information are not honored.
5. The custodian will contact you and advise you of any deposit requirements. You agree to pay the balance due upon delivery of the records.
6. Under OPRA, a custodian must deny access to a person who has been convicted of an indictable offense in New Jersey, any other state, or the United States, and who is seeking government records containing personal information pertaining to the person’s victim or the victim’s family.
7. By law, the Borough of Longport must notify you that it grants or denies a request for access to government records within seven (7) business days after the Custodian of Record receives the request, provided that the record is currently available and not in storage. If the record requested is not currently available or is in storage, the custodian will advise you within seven (7) business days when the record can be made available and the estimated cost. You may agree with the custodian to extend the time for making records available, or granting or denying your request.
8. You may be denied access to a government record if your request would substantially disrupt agency operations and the custodian is unable to reach a reasonable solution with you.
9. If the Borough of Longport is unable to comply with your request for access to a government record, the custodian will indicate the reasons for denial on the request form and send you a signed and dated copy.
10. Except as otherwise provided by law or by agreement with the requester, if the custodian of the record requested fails to respond to you within seven business days of receiving a request form, the failure to respond will be considered a denial of your request.
11. If your request for access to a government record has been denied or unfilled within the time permitted by law, you have a right to challenge the decision by the Borough of Longport to deny access. At your option, you may either file a complaint in writing with the Government Records Council (GRC) or institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey. You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at PO Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at grc@dca.state.nj.us, or at their web site at www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council can also answer other questions about the law.
12. Information provided on this form may be subject to disclosure under the Open Public Records Act.