2024 Political Party Committee Candidate Petitions
Charlie Kratovil made this OPRA request to Hightstown Borough as part of a batch sent to 12 authorities This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.
Dear Hightstown Borough,
Under N.J.S. § 19:13-11, I am requesting complete copies of all petitions filed with your office by candidates for political party "County Committee" seats in the June 4 primary election.
I require these records as soon as possible and I prefer to receive the response to this request via email, in one or more .pdf attachments. Please contact me promptly here or at 732-993-9697 if you have any questions about this request, or if you would like to make alternate arrangements for me to inspect the petitions.
Yours faithfully,
Charlie Kratovil
Your request for records pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
was received in the office of the Municipal Clerk on March 26, 2024. This
response is being provided on the 5^th business day after receipt of your
request.
Your OPRA Request was as follows:
A search of our available records has identified the following records
responsive to your request:
Democrat CC Petitions
Republican CC Petitions
Please be advised pursuant to NJSA 47:1A-1.1 redactions for personal
identifiers have been made.
I believe this fulfills your request. You file has been marked closed.
--
Peggy Riggio, RMC/QPA/CMR
Borough Clerk, Purchasing Agent, Registrar
Hightstown Borough
156 Bank Street, Hightstown, New Jersey 08520
(609) 490-5100 ext. 628
[1]www.HightstownBorough.com
[2]Find us on Facebook @BoroughofHightstown
WARNING: Email received or sent by Borough Officials and/or Employees is
subject to the Open Public Records Act [OPRA]. This e-mail, including all
attachments, may constitute "public records" which may be obtained by any
person filing a request under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). There
should be no expectation that the content of e-mails exchanged with
Borough Officials and/or Employees will remain private.
Dear Madame Clerk,
I believe the petitions are supposed to be available for inspection, without redaction, per N.J.S. § 19:13-11. Please provide unredacted copies of the records. Thank you kindly.
Yours sincerely,
Charlie Kratovil
Dear Madame Clerk,
My apologies for the error. The statute I should have cited is N.J. Stat. § 19:13-9.
Yours sincerely,
Charlie Kratovil
Mr. Kratovil,
Please see the attached in response to your OPRA Request.
Thank you.
--
Peggy Riggio, RMC/QPA/CMR
Borough Clerk, Purchasing Agent, Registrar
Hightstown Borough
156 Bank Street, Hightstown, New Jersey 08520
(609) 490-5100 ext. 628
[1]www.HightstownBorough.com
[2]Find us on Facebook @BoroughofHightstown
WARNING: Email received or sent by Borough Officials and/or Employees is
subject to the Open Public Records Act [OPRA]. This e-mail, including all
attachments, may constitute "public records" which may be obtained by any
person filing a request under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). There
should be no expectation that the content of e-mails exchanged with
Borough Officials and/or Employees will remain private.
Dear Ms. Riggio,
Respectfully, I disagree with the conclusion reached by your Borough OPRA Attorney. The statute is clear that the petitions are "open under proper regulations for public inspection." Just because some portion of a petition is not required does not make that portion of the petition non-public, or not open for inspection. Under Title 19, I have a right to inspect the petitions and I am attempting to exercise that right. Can you please identify the attorney you are referring to so that I may speak to them about this further?
Yours sincerely,
Charlie Kratovil
Mr. Kratovil:
Although not for the reasons set out in your original reply, after further
consultation with the Borough OPRA attorney, Gary Marek, we have
determined that the requested petitions are releasable to you without
redaction. Copies of the unredacted petitions are attached. If you would
still like to discuss this with our counsel, you may contact Mr. Marek
directly at 856-802-9029.
Please let me know if you have any questions or require additional
information.
Thank you.
--
Peggy Riggio, RMC/QPA/CMR
Borough Clerk, Purchasing Agent, Registrar
Hightstown Borough
156 Bank Street, Hightstown, New Jersey 08520
(609) 490-5100 ext. 628
[1]www.HightstownBorough.com
[2]Find us on Facebook @BoroughofHightstown
WARNING: Email received or sent by Borough Officials and/or Employees is
subject to the Open Public Records Act [OPRA]. This e-mail, including all
attachments, may constitute "public records" which may be obtained by any
person filing a request under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). There
should be no expectation that the content of e-mails exchanged with
Borough Officials and/or Employees will remain private.