file photo by Boyd Loving
How to Request Government Records?
1. All government records are subject to public access under the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”), unless specifically exempt.
2. A request for access to a government record under OPRA must be in writing, hand-delivered, mailed, transmitted electronically, or otherwise conveyed to the appropriate custodian. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.g. The seven (7) business day response time does not commence until the records custodian receives the request form. If you submit the request form to any other officer or employee of the Village of Ridgewood, that officer or employee must either forward the request to the appropriate custodian, or direct you to the appropriate custodian. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.h.
3. Requestors may submit requests anonymously. If you elect not to provide a name, address, or telephone number, or other means of contact, the custodian is not required to respond until you reappear before the custodian seeking a response to the original request.
4. The fees for duplication of a government record in printed form are listed on the front of this form. We will notify you of any special service charges or other additional charges authorized by State law or regulation before processing your request. Payment shall be made by cash, check or money order payable to the Village of Ridgewood.
5. You may be charged a 50% or other deposit when a request for copies exceeds $25. The Village of Ridgewood custodian will contact you and advise you of any deposit requirements. You agree to pay the balance due upon delivery of the records. Anonymous requests in excess of $5.00 require a deposit of 100% of estimated fees.
6. Under OPRA, a custodian must deny access to a person who has been convicted of an indictable offense in New Jersey, any other state, or the United States, and who is seeking government records containing personal information pertaining to the person’s victim or the victim’s family. This includes anonymous requests for said information.
7. By law, the Village of Ridgewood must notify you that it grants or denies a request for access to government records within seven (7) business days after the agency custodian of records receives the request. If the record requested is not currently available or is in storage, the custodian will advise you within seven (7) business days after receipt of the request when the record can be made available and the estimated cost for reproduction.
8. You may be denied access to a government record if your request would substantially disrupt agency operations and the custodian is unable to reach a reasonable solution with you.
9. If the Village of Ridgewood is unable to comply with your request for access to a government record, the custodian will indicate the reasons for denial on the request form or other written correspondence and send you a signed and dated copy.
10. Except as otherwise provided by law or by agreement with the requester, if the agency custodian of records fails to respond to you within seven (7) business days of receiving a request, the failure to respond is a deemed denial of your request.
11. If your request for access to a government record has been denied or unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a right to challenge the decision by the Village of Ridgewood to deny access. At your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council (“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at PO Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at grc@dca.state.nj.us, or at their web site at www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council can also answer other questions about the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should be directed to the Court Clerk in your County.
12. Information provided on this form may be subject to disclosure under the Open Public Records Act.
Click here to download OPRA Request Form ( https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/images/VillageOPRA.pdf )
Step 13. Be prepared that certain individuals will redact information at will.
12. Be prepared to take a ration of shit from a certain member of the council if you have requested copies of his official correspondence.
One thing that should be Oprah requested is that retired employees that are still utilizing village cell phones. That should be a no-no. Isn’t that stealing. I’m paying taxes for this. If this is true I’m going to channel 12.
Guide for losers.
The village fly on the wall is buzzing around with a lot of new info. Just standby
So true , The village manager, Mayor and Council hate when the public want to do an opera request on information. that’s why they are trying to change the ordinance on opera request fees to charge more, why to discourage anyone to get the information they are looking for.
the only person who has an issue is Jeff Voigt
Haha @ 11:09. He is one crazy and very scary guy. I supported him and had my parents and adult children support him. We met with him to make sure we were in the same page about issues and he lied to our faces. He is a disgrace as a council person, friend and neighbor!
@ 4:55. Yes that is stealing and I hope it isn’t true. But from the sounds of things in Ridgewood lately there seems to be a lot of stealing or favors. However you want to word it…I just caught wind that healthbarn a business over in the hillcrest area is advertised on the village web site ias anpartnwrship is actually a private business. That none of the profits made by this business are shared with Ridgewood. I was under the idea that it was a partnership with Ridgewood. A partnership generally means shared profits. This is not the case. For $3800.00 this business gets to use 11 acres of a park, the house, 12 parking spots and a huge piece of park property that is fenced in and locked!!! No increase in the lease and it was signed for 6 years…makes me believe that maybe certain people may still have cell phones…no one cares !! Tax payers need to pay more attention!!!
I have filed OPRA requests from time to time over the course of many years. Long before Jeff Voigt even lived in this town. Never had a problem, ever. Even when it was requested for things to do with other controversial elected officials. But this guy, forget it. What he did to those three was vindictive and petty and ridiculous. What the hell was he thinking, trying to intimidate and harass some of the stand-up citizens who were only doing what they are legally allowed to do. He has really embarrassed himself and our town.
The OPEN public records act is supposed to provide OPEN information for anyone who wants it. It is also called the SUNSHINE law, as in fresh air and sunshine. Ironic that the person who espouses TRANSPARENCY (oh god make me puke) the way Aronsohn always did, this one wound up being the person who tried to stop people from every submitting OPRA’s again.
I think I will submit an OPRA on his correspondence just because I can. I want to support those who took it on the chin from this vindictive individual.
7:24 – do tell! Inquiring minds want to know!
4:55 did you get Oprah to make an OPRA request?
Oh the bug will , so much dirt in village hall campus.
Hey since when did Oprah start doing this investigative research? I thought she retired? Good for her!
I love it
What is going on , why why why
Many investigations will be a current , Sit down hold onto your seat make some popcorn. Enjoy the show
7:08 stop teasing us, we are dying to know.
The Health Barn must be treated as any other business in town. The rent must be raised to the equivalent of all the other business’s, the privileges must be taken away. Roberta is no longer in a position of power so why is her friend still getting by with murder? And I think I read somewhere that property purchased with the help of State aid to open spaces cannot be used for a commercial business. How did she get there? Can we complain to the funding source about improper use of their money?