It is hereby declared to be the public policy
of Readington Township to recognize the public's general right to
know pursuant to the Public Open Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et
seq.). All records kept in the course of official duties by a Readington
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.
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-5(f).
[Amended 7-17-2006 by Ord. No. 24-2006; 2-20-2007 by Ord. No.
3-2007; 7-6-2010 by Ord. No. 20-2010]
Copies of records may be purchased for the fee
prescribed by law or regulation. The calculation used to determine
the actual costs of photo copying shall be based on the following
formula: total cost of paper purchased for one year (calendar or fiscal)
plus the total cost of toner purchased (calendar or fiscal) divided
by the annual copying volume. This calculation may be averaged for
all copy machines in the Municipal Building that produce letter and
legal copies. The actual calculation and price for copies will be
kept on file in the Clerk’s office and shall be reviewed and
revised as necessary, on an annual basis, by resolution, after certification
for accuracy by the Chief Financial Officer. The Township reserves
the right to waive all copying fees for documents requested if the
cost per page falls under a reasonable rate to efficiently administer
or below $0.10 per copy or as in state regulations. However, where
the actual cost for duplication of a record exceeds the rates, actual
cost shall be imposed.
A. Large-sized paper documents and maps (exceeding 11 inches by 17 inches): actual cost of duplicating plus service charge referred to in Subsection
F below.
B. Preprinted documents:
|
Document
|
Fee
|
---|
|
Zoning Map
|
$5
|
|
Street Map
|
$4
|
|
Land Use Pamphlet
|
$30
|
|
Master Plan
|
$30
|
|
Supplements to Master Plan, each
|
$30
|
|
Senior Citizens Supplement
|
$50
|
C. Police reports and photographs:
(1) Police accident reports: charged as indicated 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.
(3) Photographs: cost of duplication.
D. Audio tape: cost of duplication.
E. Information on CD, diskette or cassette tape: $5 per
CD, diskette or cassette tape.
F. A special service charge shall be imposed, in addition
to the actual cost of duplicating the record, in the following circumstances:
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; or where a request is for a record in a medium not routinely
used by the Township, not routinely developed or maintained by the
Township or requiring a substantial amount of manipulation or programming
of information technology. The special service charge shall reflect
the labor cost of personnel necessary to accommodate the request or
the cost for any extensive use of information technology. The special
service charge rate for supervisory, programming and/or clerical services
shall be charged per hour and as follows: The hourly rate shall be
the hourly wage of the employee conducting the supervisory, programming
and/or clerical services as set by the Township from year to year
and/or P.B.A. agreement(s) 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. All records faxed will be charged based on the copying costs outlined in Subsection
A above.
I. A deposit shall be paid prior to filling any 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.