Dr. Berghammer,
I have received the resolutions appointing you.  Thank you for providing
them, though they legally should have been on the authority website by
now.
You told me the LHA would be launching a new website on August 1, and that
the new website would include all of the legally-required
information, including every resolution.  There is a state statute that
outlines the required information to be placed on all public housing
authority websites:
[1]https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/...
The authority's website is still woefully deficient in regards to
transparency: [2]https://www.lindenhousingauthority.org/d...
I don't see any resolutions since October 2024. Many other required
documents are missing, such as the recently-approved audit, meeting
minutes, etc.   
What happened to the new website?  When can we expect the authority to
come into compliance?
Additionally, I still have not received any response whatsoever to my
April 30 request for the total compensation of each authority employee
during the year 2024. I am including the request below - please respond to
confirm receipt:

Dear Linden Housing Authority,

Please accept this electronic request for public records made under NJSA
47:1A-10 and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill
out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my
request per NJSA 47:1A-5(f), which states that an email from a requestor
including all of the information required on the adopted form shall
suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record
request.

I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of
New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.

I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial
purpose.

I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.

Records requested:
1) records sufficient to show the 2024 total pay for each current or
former authority employee

If possible, please include the total pay AND breakdowns by categories
such as base pay, overtime pay, and any other forms of additional
compensation such as stipends, allowances, bonuses, reimbursements,
payments in lieu of health benefits, transportation, etc.

My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by
E-mail as an Excel spreadsheet attachment. If you have any questions for
me, feel free to call at 732-993-9697.

Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the
custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and
provide their email address to me for future reference.

Yours faithfully,

Charlie Kratovil

Hope to hear from you soon, thanks.
Charlie
On Sat, Jul 26, 2025 at 11:34 PM Charlie Kratovil
<[3][email address]> wrote:

Dr. Berghammer,
On April 30, I requested payroll records from LHA's custodian of records
but received no response:
[4]https://opramachine.com/request/2024_pay...
I've raised this issue during at least two public meetings where you
were present, and I handed a copy of the request to your legal counsel. 
When can I expect a response to the 4/30 request?
Additionally, I never received the resolution(s) appointing you
executive director, which were requested long ago.  Please provide both
resolutions immediately.
Sincerely,
Charlie Kratovil
On Wed, May 14, 2025 at 3:50 PM Charlie Kratovil
<[5][email address]> wrote:

Hello Dr. Berghammer,
Respectfully, the LHA is in violation of the Open Public Records Act. 
Your attorney said that I would receive responses to my outstanding
requests "in short order."  That was almost a month ago, and I have
not received any further response to my requests.  What happened?
Additionally, as I mentioned on our call, the response LHA provided in
response to my request for your resume included your social security
number.  For your information, it was on page 10/22 in the responsive
.pdf file provided, at the top of your Grand Canyon University
transcript.
On our call, you mentioned you would assist in providing records
responsive to my OPRA requests if possible.  Let's start with the
bylaws.  This is perhaps the agency's most fundamental document.  Can
anyone on this email provide a copy today, prior to the meeting at
5:30pm?
Summary of the OPRA violations
On February 10, I filed two request: one for a copy of your contract,
and the other for copies of all resumes for the candidates that
applied for the executive director position, as well as all evaluation
criteria/scoresheets utilized in the hiring process.
On April 7, I was provided with a copy of your resume (and other
supporting documentation), though my request for the other candidates'
resumes was denied.  Ms. Sanders wrote, "Unfortunately, we are unable
to provide the information you are requesting for the other candidates
without their prior consent. Let me know if you have any questions." 
I responded by requesting a list of "the other candidates so that I
can obtain their permission" and asked "Were any efforts made by the
Linden Housing Authority to get their permission?"  I received no
further response.
[6]https://opramachine.com/request/ed_candi...
On April 7, Ms. Sanders responded to my request for your contract,
indicating that "I will provide a copy once the contract is duly
executed."  Ten days later, Ms. Sanders wrote: "I cannot give you
something that, to the best of my knowledge, is not completed.  Once
again, as soon as it's available I will send it over."  No further
response since then.
[7]https://opramachine.com/request/marlene_...
On April 16, I requested copies of the attorney's bills but received
no response:
[8]https://opramachine.com/request/hunt_ham...
On April 17, I requested the bylaws on April 17 but received no
response:
[9]https://opramachine.com/request/bylaws_2
On April 30, I requested payroll records but received no response:
[10]https://opramachine.com/request/2024_pay...
As you may know, the OPRA requires a response within seven business
days.  I believe the agency is in violation on each of the above
requests.  Please provide responses today.
Meeting schedule discrepancy
I must also note that the record I was provided when I asked for the
2025 LHA Board meeting schedule states that the meetings are held at
5pm.  However, your website states 5:30pm.  Thank you for confirming
on our call that today's meeting starts at 5:30pm.
In light of this discrepancy, I would also ask that you please provide
a copy of the public notice for the authority's meetings, and advise
which newspaper(s) it was sent to.
I'll be free to talk if you call 732-993-9697, but I'm not sure if
I'll be able to attend tonight.  Thanks for taking my call earlier and
I hope we can resolve the above issues ASAP.
Sincerely,
Charlie Kratovil
Editor, New Brunswick Today

References

Visible links
1. https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/...
2. https://www.lindenhousingauthority.org/d...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://opramachine.com/request/2024_pay...
5. mailto:[email address]
6. https://opramachine.com/request/ed_candi...
7. https://opramachine.com/request/marlene_...
8. https://opramachine.com/request/hunt_ham...
9. https://opramachine.com/request/bylaws_2
10. https://opramachine.com/request/2024_pay...

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Record finally provided 8/11/2025
Note included from the Executive Director: "Please find staff salary for
the year 2024 for the Linden Housing Authority.  It is my understanding
that the staff was being paid by all three entities...Please note that
Jerry Volpe removed all of the check books and cancelled check for the
years 2023 and 2024.  The Linden Housing Authority do not have any record
as to how much Mr. Volpe  earned from all three entities as a QPA for
2023, 2024 an the early part of 2025"
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dr. Marlena Berghammer <[1][HACL request email]>
Date: Mon, Aug 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Subject: linden housing authority staff salary for the year 2024
To: Charlie Kratovil <[2][email address]>

Please find staff salary for the year 2024 for the Linden Housing
Authority.  It is my understanding that the staff was being paid by all
three entities.

Please note that Jerry Volpe removed all of the check books and cancelled
check for the years 2023 and 2024.  The Linden Housing Authority do not
have any record as to how much Mr. Volpe  earned from all three entities
as a QPA for 2023, 2024 an the early part of 2025

Dr. M. Berghammer

Executive Director

Linden Housing Authority

1601 Dill Avenue

Linden NJ 07036

[3][email address]

908-298-3820 ext 205

Cell 347-439-4801

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[HACL request email]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]

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