Chapter 48 or any documentation that relates to how the township will provide for medical for employees that fall within PFRS accidental or ordinary disability retirement
Dear Clark Township,
Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA 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-6(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:
Chapter 48 or any documentation that relates to how Clark Township will provide medical benefits for employees that fall withing PFRS accidental or ordinary disability retirement.
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. 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,
Michael Somma
Your request has been received and will be processed in accordance with the Open Public Records Act.
Edith L. Merkel, RMC
Township Clerk
Township of Clark
430 Westfield Avenue
Clark, New Jersey 07066
732-388-3669
To: Michael Somma <[OPRA #78159 email]>
From: Edith L. Merkel, Township Clerk, Township of Clark
Re: OPRA request - Ch 48
Date: July 7, 2025
The Township of Clark received your Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request on July 7, 2025. The official Records Custodian, Edith Merkel, received your OPRA request on July 7, 2025. As such, the seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is July 14, 2025. This response to your request is being provided to you on the second business day after the custodian’s receipt of said request.
Your OPRA request sought access to:
Chapter 48 or any documentation that relates to how Clark Township will provide medical benefits for employees that fall withing PFRS accidental or ordinary disability retirement.
Response:
The Township does not maintain records responsive to your request. Chapter 48 is a state maintain record.
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 Township of Clark 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 P.O. Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at [email address], or at their web site at 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.
Dear Ms. Merkel Clerk's Dept.,
I just want to be clear that it is the town's statement that they do not maintain records of documents that are mandated to be completed and sent to the NJ Division of Pensions and Benefits? Specifically document HR-0426-0525 as shown in the NJ Division of Pensions and Benefits website ( https://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions/doc... ).
Chapter 48 as Amended under Section 7 of P.L. 1964, c.125 (C.52:14-17.38) attached for further reference.
https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/9899/PL99/48...
Yours sincerely,
Michael Somma
Good afternoon,
Please see the attached correspondence regarding the above OPRA request.
Thank you.
Sarah Canfield
Paralegal
La Corte, Bundy, Varady, & Kinsella
989 Bonnel Court
Union, NJ 07083
Tel. 908-810-0500
Fax: 908-810-0513