The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Senator Joe Pennacchio today introduced legislation (S-2575) to remove limitations in the Emergency Health Powers Act that obscure government transparency during crises like the current coronavirus pandemic.
Continue reading Murphy Administration uses emergency powers to deny OPRA requests
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood School Board discussed the litigation matter that was on the Executive Session agenda. Two board members recused themselves due to a conflict. The Board discussed the next steps in regard to this matter. A motion to appeal the current case was approved.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Saurabh Dani v. Ridgewood Board of Education, earlier yesterday, a Judge granted order enforcing litigant’s rights. For the second time, Board of Education was found in violation and failed to do something ordered by the court. See complete order in comments, a stark contrast of what BOE (James Morgan) posted days ago.
Continue reading Judge Grants Order Enforcing Litigant’s Rights Against Ridgewood Board of Education
Mr. Morgan,
I read with interest your reply, and while your volunteer service is to be commended and appreciated, I believe, that based on your own words, you simply do not understand the purpose or value of the state’s Open Meeting Laws, why they even exist and to be frank you seem to thumb your nose at them.
In addition, your representation of the DANI lawsuit is factually incorrect, perhaps understandably influenced because Mr. Dani, regularly exerts his legal rights to speak and address questions to the board at public meetings, that you [in your own words] refer to as “harassment”.
Jim Morgan
Ridgewood NJ, I read with rising dismay some of the comments concerning my recent posting about Saurabh Dani, a candidate for the Ridgewood Board of Education, and an attempt force the taxpayers to finance his crusade to uncover nothing. While a number of Villagers appear to understand how nonsensical his behavior has been, and I appreciate their comments, there also those that seem bent to position him as some kind of hero in this fight. It is my sincere hope the majority see his conduct for what it really is – a self-serving and unproductive threat to Ridgewood Schools.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Court Documents tell a very different story in,” Saurabh Dani vs. Ridgewood Board of Education “. In Dani vs. Ridgewood Board of Education pay special attention to the very last paragraph, “prevailing party, plaintiff is entitled to an award..attorneys’ fees…It does appear Mr Morgan and the BOE were attempting to spread misinformation! Mr Dani is not seeking any damages, even though he can, Mr Morgan is being told to pay attorney fees because he lost .
“The fact that the BOE members let this go to a legal matter is shameful on the part of the entire Board. This started off as a perfectly lawful request that they decided not to respond to, which in-turn forced the lawsuit. I’m sure they were hoping that Dani would let sleeping dogs lie. They made a strategic blunder. When a Board does not respond to a perfectly lawful request under the laws of the state, and then they are forced to respond by way of a lawsuit, the Board should resign. The court’s decision shows that they wasted time, money, and ran afoul of the law, specifically the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), which used to be called “Right To Know Law”, which governs the public’s access to government records in New Jersey. So, they were holding back on every citizens “right to know”. Time, money, and public records, is what they are there to provide oversight over, and be good stewards over. If they cannot do that for themselves, they cannot be expected to provide financial oversight and governance over a school system. It’s total irresponsibility of their roles as board members, and the board speaks with one voice, a resolution for the entire BOE to step down is in order.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ,Superior court judge orders Ridgewood BOE to produce certificates from board members, to certify the manner in which they access Board of Education emails:
On Friday, March 13th, Superior court judge, Bonnie Mizdol ordered the Ridgewood BOE to produce certificates from two members of board, within 7 days attesting to the manner in which they access Board of Education emails from any and all non-Board devices and/or non-Board email accounts. These certifications shall be detailed and specific, including but not limited to::
By the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, Late last summer a reporter employed by The Record newspaper, submitted an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request to the Village Clerk’s office that asked for some information from all five elected Council members. Four of the five complied in a timely fashion, as required BY LAW. Councilman Jeffrey Voigt, however, delayed his response. When he finally did respond, he included a fictitious narrative that was not what the reporter had requested. Actually, even if his narrative had been factual, this would not have been in compliance with OPRA, as you are not supposed to CREATE DOCUMENTS when supplying information via the OPRA process. The fact that Councilman Voigt’s response was full of untruths just compounded the violation.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, word from inside Village Hall is that Councilman Voigt has gone ballistic. Claims he had no idea the reporter who spoke to him was going to write an article. Isn’t that generally what reporters are paid to do; that is, write articles?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, once again is treated to a litany of issues revolving around councilman Voigt’s social media presence . Northjersey.com is reporting that “Ridgewood Councilman Jeff Voigt provided inaccurate information about one of his Facebook accounts in response to a public records request by NorthJersey.com.”
Continue reading Ridgewood Councilman Jeff Voigt provided inaccurate information about one of his Facebook accounts in response to a public records request
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Newark NJ, On Friday, Stuart Meissner, candidate for U.S. Senate, former prosecutor and leading whistleblower attorney, has filed an open records request pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) seeking information about communications between Cory Booker and his staff, both campaign and official, and the City of Newark concerning the Newark Water Crisis:
“As I have traveled around the state speaking to voters, I have heard an overwhelming demand for more information about Senator Cory Booker’s abdication of leadership that led to the Newark Water Crisis. People want answers. In filing this public records request, I am ensuring that New Jersey voters will know how much Booker cared about preserving his image on the presidential campaign trail than he did about the poisoned residents of Newark.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, resident Steve Kim recounts his recent OPRA experience with the Ridgewood Board of Education .
OPRA is used when the requestor wants to gain access to government records and wants to invoke the OPRA statute, which provides a statutory right of access to government records and holds a records custodian to a response deadline.
What does this mean? The requestor must choose to submit an OPRA request. Custodians do not decide when requestor must use OPRA and cannot force requestors to submit an OPRA request
Continue reading Ridgewood BOE Withholds Information on Facilities Meetings
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
FREEHOLD NJ, Monmouth County Assignment Judge Lisa P. Thorton ruled on Friday that the county broke the law by refusing to process certain public records requests under a new policy enacted last year, rejecting all of the county’s arguments in favor of refusing to respond to public records requests that will be automatically published online.
Continue reading Judge Rules Monmouth County Broke Law By Refusing OPRA Requests
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
HACKENSACK NJ, In a decision released this week, New Jersey Superior Court Assignment Judge Bonnie Mizdol has ruled in favor of the City of Hackensack in a lawsuit brought by a political opponent of the Mayor and Council, Steven Gelber, who sought to have their “Labrosse Team” Facebook page deemed a government record. Gelber was represented in the suit by Jason Nunnermacker, a former Hackensack School Board President and unsuccessful City Council candidate who lost his re-election campaign in April. The judge disagreed, citing the page’s political nature in both its content and its description and ruling that it is not an official government record subject to the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”).