[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Galloway as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fees — See Ch. 189.
[Adopted 1-26-2010 by Ord. No. 1800]
It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the Township of Galloway 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.
A. 
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.
B. 
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, the governing body may designate a Deputy Custodian of records for other public agencies. The governing body designates the Captain of the Police Department as Deputy Custodian for all Police Department records requests. The Municipal 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.
A. 
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.
B. 
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.
C. 
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.
D. 
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.
E. 
If the record requested is temporarily unavailable because it is in use or in storage, the Clerk shall so advise the requester and shall make arrangements to make a copy of the record available.
F. 
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.
G. 
As required by N.J.SA. 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 Clerk shall advise the requestor 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.
A. 
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.
B. 
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.
[Amended 7-27-2010 by Ord. No. 1822]
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. The actual costs have been determined to be the following:
A. 
Standard-sized paper documents, up to 8 1/2 inches by 14 inches in size:
(1) 
$0.02 per page for black and white.
(2) 
$0.07 per page for color.
B. 
However, where the actual cost for duplication of a record is more time-consuming than regular printed materials, i.e., nonprinted materials including, but not limited to, maps and photographs, then the rates above may be exceeded, but in no event shall the cost exceed the following:
(1) 
Standard-sized paper documents, up to 8 1/2 inches by 14 inches in size:
Number of Pages
Fee
1 to 10
$0.75 per page
11 to 20
$0.50 per page
All over 20
$0.25 per page
C. 
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: flat rate of $5, as established by N.J.S.A. 39:4-131.
[Amended 7-2-2019 by Ord. No. 2016-2019]
D. 
Electronic records.
(1) 
Copy of electronic document or database. The following fees cover the cost of copying existing files to a floppy disk or CD. Any requests for software conversions shall be subject to the special service charge described below. For security reasons, the use of a floppy disk or CD provided by the requestor is prohibited.
(a) 
Floppy disks: actual cost (1.4 MB maximum storage).
(b) 
CD: actual cost (700 MB maximum storage).
E. 
Miscellaneous medium.
(1) 
Mailing labels: actual cost per sheet of 30 labels; only sold in full sheets.
F. 
Applicable postage shall be added for any and all records requested by mail.
G. 
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.