Mr. Moore,

This correspondence shall serve as Nutley Township (the “Township”)’s
response to your request for access to government records pursuant to the
Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq. (“OPRA”), which was
received by the Township on December 10, 2019 during regular business
hours. Below is a list of each request for access and the Township’s
response to the same:

-          “Records requested: I seek the following information from the
bill list of 12/3/2019. 19-00254, 19-00369, 19-00535, 19-00824, 19-03349,
19-03689, 19-01231, 19-02048, 190204919-03535,19-03366. I seek all related
documents for the initial request, the approval and the reason for the
approval." Please see attached records. Redactions have been made pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1 in order to protect personal identifying information
as well as information under the attorney-client privilege.

To the extent that you have also requested access to the above government
records under the common law, your stated interest in obtaining the
records must be balanced against the Township of Nutley’s interest in
nondisclosure.  See Loigman v. Kimmelman, 102 N.J. 98 (1986).  The
foregoing response to your request for access to government records
incorporates the aforementioned balancing test.  Please note that "a
party's status as a litigant does not enlarge its access to government
records under OPRA”.  MAG Entm't, LLC v. Div. of Alcoholic Beverage
Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534, 545-46 (App. Div. 2005).  The Township of
Nutley reserves the right to raise any other grounds for denial not raised
in this response.  Failure of the Township of Nutley to assert an
exemption or privilege does not act as a waiver of any grounds for
denial.  Furthermore, a reviewing Court or the Government Records Council
("GRC") may deem a denial of access to be authorized on grounds other that
those advanced by a custodian.  See Paffv. Twp. of Plainsboro,
A-2122-05T2, 2007 WL 957289, at *2 (App. Div., Apr. 2, 2007), affirming,
Paff v. Township of Plainsboro, GRC Complaint No. 2005-29 (March 2006). 
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled, you have a right to challenge the decision by the Township of
Nutley to deny access.  At your option, you may either initiate a
proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with
the 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 P.O.
Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at [1][email address], or on
its website at [2]www.state.nj.us/grc.  The GRC 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.

Sincerely,

Ceci Tramontana

Clerk / Municipal Housing Liaison

Municipal Clerk’s Office

Township of Nutley, NJ

(973) 284-4951 x2233 Office

(973) 284-5668 Fax

[3]www.nutleynj.org

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References

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