[Ord. No. 19-1994]
In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 47:1A-2, all records which are required by law to be made, maintained or kept on file by any board, body, agency, department, commission, authority or official of the Borough shall be deemed to be public records. Every citizen of the State shall have the right to inspect such records during regular business hours maintained by the custodian thereof. Every citizen of the State shall also have the right, during regular business hours and under the supervision of the representative of the custodian, to copy such records by hand and to purchase copies of the records. Copies of records shall be made available upon the payment of the price established by law.
[Ord. No. 19-1994; Ord. No. 1998-12; Ord. No. 2003-32; Ord. No. 2004-03; Ord. No. 2004-13; Ord. No. 2005-09; Ord. No. 2008-09; Ord. No. 2010-17; Ord. No. 2013-12]
The following fees shall be charged for copies of public documents:
A. 
For copies of public documents on letter-size or legal-size paper, fees shall be charged in accordance with those listed in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(b).
B. 
For oversized copies of public documents, the actual cost incurred in making the copy shall be charged. If the document must be copied by another source, e.g. a printer, for duplication, the actual cost paid by the Borough shall be paid by the requestor.
C. 
There shall be no charge for electronic transmission of documents via fax or e-mail.
D. 
For certified copies of a Vital Statistic document, the fee charged shall be consistent with those charged by the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics.
E. 
Municipal Court discovery and police accident reports.
(1) 
All requests for discovery in matters pending in the Hightstown Municipal Court shall be submitted through the Municipal Prosecutor.
(2) 
The following fees shall be payable by the requestor to the Borough of Hightstown for the discovery or accident report provided:
(a) 
For documents on letter-size or legal-size paper, fees shall be charged in accordance with those listed in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(b).
(b) 
Actual postage for any discovery or accident report sent by mail.
(c) 
$0.25 for the envelope for any discovery or accident report sent by mail.
(d) 
Photographs will be photocopied at the rates established herein. If requests are made for duplicate photographs, the actual cost of making the photographs shall be charged.
(e) 
Duplication of video tapes constitutes an extraordinary duplication process and will be charged at the rate of $5 per video tape.
(f) 
For any item that cannot be photocopied on the Borough's copy machine or for any item not otherwise provided for in this schedule, the actual cost incurred in making the copy shall be charged.
(g) 
Where the discovery must be obtained from an entity other than the Borough of Hightstown, e.g. another police department, the actual costs paid to the other entity shall be paid by the requestor.
(h) 
There shall be no charge to persons over the age of 65 for discoveries or police accident reports.
F. 
For duplicate tax, water and sewer bills, $5 each.
G. 
For a certificate as to approval of subdivisions, as follows:
(1) 
When the property described in the application is shown on the Assessment Map subdivided into Borough lots and does not exceed 5,000 square feet in area, $3, and for each additional 5,000 square feet in area or fraction thereof, an additional $0.50.
(2) 
When the property is shown on the Assessment Map as acreage or is so assessed and lies wholly within the limits of a single block, $3, and if within the limits of two or more blocks, an additional $1 for each block.
(3) 
When the property described in the application is or has been subdivided and assessed as more than one item, an additional fee of $1 shall be allowed for each subdivision separately assessed.
(4) 
$5 shall be the maximum charge for a certificate covering lands lying wholly within one block as shown on the Assessment Map of the Borough, unless there is a subdivision of proprietorship indicated by the assessment.
H. 
For a certificate as to approval of subdivision within three years from the date of the original search, $1 per year.
I. 
For official searches for municipal liens (tax searches) or for improvements authorized but not assessed, $10.
J. 
For a continuation of an official search for municipal liens or for a continuation of an official search for improvements authorized but not assessed, $2 per year.
K. 
For a duplicate tax sale certificate, $100.
L. 
For a full copy of the Revised General Ordinances of the Borough of Hightstown, $100.
M. 
For a full copy of the Borough's Master Plan, $195.
N. 
For a copy of an audio or video tape, the actual cost of the media and duplication thereof.
[Ord. No. 19-1994]
Where the document in question is more than 100 pages in length, the Clerk may permit the person requesting copies to use his own copying machine, provided that there is no risk of damage or mutilation of the document and it would not be compatible with the transaction of public business. Such determination shall be completely within the discretion of the Clerk. The fee in such case shall be $15 per day.
[Ord. No. 19-1994]
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 2-33-1 where it appears that the records which are sought to be examined pertain to an investigation in progress by any body, agency, commission, board, authority or official, the right of examination may be denied if the inspection, copying or publication of the records would be inimical to the public interest, provided that this provision shall not be construed to prohibit any body, agency, commission board, authority or official from opening such records to public examination if not otherwise prohibited by law.
[Ord. No. 2012-11]
The following fees will be charged as determined by the State of New Jersey:
A. 
Federal and State Applicant Card.
B. 
Mental Health.
C. 
Firearms purchaser identification card.
D. 
Permit to purchase a pistol or revolver.
E. 
SBI Names Check.
[Ord. No. 1998-12; Ord. No. 2008-09; Ord. No. 2012-11]
A fee will be charged for any check returned to the Borough for insufficient funds at the maximum allowable rate in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:5-18.
[Ord. No. 2012-11]
A fee of $2.50 will be charged per signature notarized for each of the following services:
A. 
Administering an oath/affirmation.
B. 
Executing a jurat.
C. 
Taking proof of a deed (proof of execution).
D. 
Taking an acknowledgement.
[Ord. No. 2013-01]
The Tax Collector shall provide any party entitled to redeem a certificate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:5-54 two calculations of the amount required for redemption within a calendar year at no cost. There shall be a fee charged in the maximum allowable amount pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:5-54 for each subsequent calculation requested of the Tax Collector. All requests for a redemption calculation shall be made in writing to the Tax Collector.
[Ord. No. 2015-17]
The Police Department shall provide fingerprinting services to residents who require them for various legal and employment matters. The fee for said services shall be $20 per service and all services shall be provided by appointment only. These services shall be provided to Hightstown Borough residents only.