It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this Borough
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 an Borough of Chesilhurst officer
of 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 Borough 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).
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, 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.
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 record exceeds
the rates below, the actual cost shall be imposed:
A. Standard-sized paper documents:
(1) 8 1/2 x 11: $0.05 per page.
B. Large-sized paper documents and maps (per page).
(3) Drug-Free School Zone Map: $5.
C. Preprinted documents.
(1) Copy of the Code book: $100.
(2) Each Code supplement: $50.
D. Police reports and photographs.
(1) Police accident reports; same as Subsection
A above, if requested and picked up in person.
(2) Police accident reports, when copies are requested other than in
person: $5 for the first three pages and $1 per page for each additional
page, as established by N.J.S.A. 39:4-131.
E. Electronic records.
(1) Copy of videotape supplied by municipality: $25.
(2) Copy of audiotape supplied by municipality: $25.
F. 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 fee shall be assessed on a
case-by-case basis using the standards and criteria established by
the Government Records Council as may be amended from time to time.
The requestor shall have the opportunity to review and object to the
special service charge prior to it being incurred.
G. Applicable postage shall be added for any and all records requested
by mail.
H. 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.