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INFORMATION RELATED TO YOUR RIGHTS
CONCERNING GOVERNMENT RECORDS
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
1. In order
to request access to government records under the Open Public Records
Act (OPRA), you must complete all the required portions of and date this
form and deliver it in person during regular business hours or by
mail, fax, or electronically to the records custodian. Your request is
not considered filed until the custodian of records has received
the completed request form. If you submit the form to any other officer
or employee of Chesterfield Township, that officer or employee may not
have the authority to accept your request form and your request will be
directed to the Records Custodian. The seven (7) business day response
time will not commence until the Records Custodian receives the request
form and determines it to be complete.
2. If you
submit a request for access to government records to someone other than
the Records Custodian, do not complete the request form, or attempt to
make a request for access by telephone or fax; the Open Public
Records Act and its deadlines, restrictions and remedies will not apply
to your request.
3. The fees
for duplication of government records are listed on the front of this
form. Your will be notified of any special or additional charges prior
to the processing of your request. Payments by check or money order
shall be made payable to “Chesterfield Township”.
4. When a
request for copies is expected to exceed $20.00, you may be contacted by
the Records Custodian for a deposit before the request will be
processed.
5. Under
OPRA, a records custodian must deny access to a person who has been
convicted of an indictable offense in New Jersey or any other state, and
who is seeking government records containing personal information
pertaining to the person’s victim or the victim’s family.
6. If
Chesterfield Township is unable to comply with your request for access
to a government record, the Records Custodian will indicate the reasons
for denial in writing and forward it to you.
7. Except
as otherwise provided by law or by agreement with the requestor, if the
Records Custodian fails to respond to you within seven (7) business days
of receiving the request form, the failure to respond will be
considered a denial of your request.
8. If your
request for access to a government record has been denied or unfilled
within the time permitted by law, you have a right to challenge
the decision of Chesterfield Township to deny access. At your
option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of
New Jersey or file a complaint in writing with the Government
Records Council (GRC). You may contact the GRC at 866-850-0511, by
mail at Post Office Box 819, Trenton, NJ 08625 or by e-mail at
grc@dca.state.nj.us. The Council can also answer other questions
about the law.
9.
Information provided on this form may be subject to disclosure under the
Open Public Records Act. |