Good Morning,
Please see attachment.

Grace Sequeira

City Clerk's Office

Deputy Municipal Clerk

50 Winfield Scott Plaza

Elizabeth, N.J. 07201

908-820-4130

Good Afternoon,
Please see attachment.

Grace Sequeira

City Clerk's Office

Deputy Municipal Clerk

50 Winfield Scott Plaza

Elizabeth, N.J. 07201

908-820-4130

Good Morning,
Please see attachment.

Grace Sequeira

City Clerk's Office

Deputy Municipal Clerk

50 Winfield Scott Plaza

Elizabeth, N.J. 07201

908-820-4130

Good afternoon,  

This email is in response to your request for public records to the City
Clerk pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
et seq. (OPRA). Within seven (7) business days, the City of Elizabeth then
requested additional time to respond to said request. 

You sought the following records: 

Complaint-Summons (CDR-1) from January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. 

Per my phone conversation with Executive Director Ben Shore, I advised
that additional time would be needed to provide these records as there are
approximately 150-175 responsive records and each record can only be
retrieved on a one-by-one basis. I asked if providing relevant police
incident reports would be a reasonable alternative to this OPRA request.
Alternatively, I offered to assess a special service charge as this may
involve an “extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate
the request,” as allowed by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c). Mr. Shore did not
necessarily agree a special service charge would be warranted and asked if
it was possible to provide 10-15 CDR-1 records per week.  

At this time, we are determining of this proposal is a reasonable solution
that would not substantially disrupt agency operations, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g). Please allow the records custodian until the end of
next week to either (1) begin providing responsive records or (2) advise
if your request for staggered record distribution cannot be accommodated.
 

We thank you for your patience and your willingness to work with us in
providing these records to you.

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

Good afternoon, 

I am following up as to the status of your OPRA request to the City of
Elizabeth. At this time, we are still determining if your request can be
accommodated as there is no current system in place for retrieving these
records. Please allow an additional extension of five (5) business days to
either begin providing responsive records or advise if your request cannot
be accommodated.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2022 3:37 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

This email is in response to your request for public records to the City
Clerk pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
et seq. (OPRA). Within seven (7) business days, the City of Elizabeth then
requested additional time to respond to said request. 

You sought the following records: 

Complaint-Summons (CDR-1) from January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. 

Per my phone conversation with Executive Director Ben Shore, I advised
that additional time would be needed to provide these records as there are
approximately 150-175 responsive records and each record can only be
retrieved on a one-by-one basis. I asked if providing relevant police
incident reports would be a reasonable alternative to this OPRA request.
Alternatively, I offered to assess a special service charge as this may
involve an “extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate
the request,” as allowed by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c). Mr. Shore did not
necessarily agree a special service charge would be warranted and asked if
it was possible to provide 10-15 CDR-1 records per week.  

At this time, we are determining of this proposal is a reasonable solution
that would not substantially disrupt agency operations, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g). Please allow the records custodian until the end of
next week to either (1) begin providing responsive records or (2) advise
if your request for staggered record distribution cannot be accommodated.
 

We thank you for your patience and your willingness to work with us in
providing these records to you.

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

Good afternoon,  

Please be advised additional time is needed to determine if providing
requested CDR-1 records will involve a substantial disruption of agency
activity even with your proposal of staggered distribution. We appreciate
your patience; your request for CDR-1 complaints-summonses is the first
made to the City following the N.J. Supreme Court decision of Simmons v.
Mercado, 247 N.J. 24 (2021). Accordingly, our Police Department is not
accustomed to accessing these records on a large-scale basis pursuant to
an OPRA request, and has been reaching out to the Municipal Court and
researching how other municipal police departments are providing
responsive records. We are requesting one more extension of five (5)
business days as we determine our process moving forward.    

Thank for your continued courtesy on this matter. 

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 1, 2022 3:26 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon, 

I am following up as to the status of your OPRA request to the City of
Elizabeth. At this time, we are still determining if your request can be
accommodated as there is no current system in place for retrieving these
records. Please allow an additional extension of five (5) business days to
either begin providing responsive records or advise if your request cannot
be accommodated.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2022 3:37 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

This email is in response to your request for public records to the City
Clerk pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
et seq. (OPRA). Within seven (7) business days, the City of Elizabeth then
requested additional time to respond to said request. 

You sought the following records: 

Complaint-Summons (CDR-1) from January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. 

Per my phone conversation with Executive Director Ben Shore, I advised
that additional time would be needed to provide these records as there are
approximately 150-175 responsive records and each record can only be
retrieved on a one-by-one basis. I asked if providing relevant police
incident reports would be a reasonable alternative to this OPRA request.
Alternatively, I offered to assess a special service charge as this may
involve an “extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate
the request,” as allowed by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c). Mr. Shore did not
necessarily agree a special service charge would be warranted and asked if
it was possible to provide 10-15 CDR-1 records per week.  

At this time, we are determining of this proposal is a reasonable solution
that would not substantially disrupt agency operations, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g). Please allow the records custodian until the end of
next week to either (1) begin providing responsive records or (2) advise
if your request for staggered record distribution cannot be accommodated.
 

We thank you for your patience and your willingness to work with us in
providing these records to you.

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

Good afternoon, 

Please be advised that the City will begin sending over CDR-1 records for
the month of January 2022 on a staggered weekly basis. To reiterate, Mr.
Shore made this suggestion on our phone conversation on or about March 25,
2022. The City will provide at least ten (10) reports per week starting
today, April 18, 2022. In a previous communication, I advised that the
Elizabeth Police Department has 150-175 responsive records. At that time,
I had not realized that this included both CDR-1 and CDR-2 complaints.
Because every arrest needs to be searched via the NJ Courts database to
determine whether the complaint is a summons or a warrant, we will not
know the full number of CDR-1 reports until every arrest for the month of
January 2022 has been searched on NJ Courts. I will advise when all
responsive records have been provided.  

Pursuant to the above plan, attached please find twelve (12) CDR-1
reports. Personal identifiable information such a unlisted phone numbers,
social security numbers, and driver's license numbers have been redacted
and will continue to be redacted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1.  

Please confirm receipt of this email and acceptance of the above.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 8, 2022 4:22 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

Please be advised additional time is needed to determine if providing
requested CDR-1 records will involve a substantial disruption of agency
activity even with your proposal of staggered distribution. We appreciate
your patience; your request for CDR-1 complaints-summonses is the first
made to the City following the N.J. Supreme Court decision of Simmons v.
Mercado, 247 N.J. 24 (2021). Accordingly, our Police Department is not
accustomed to accessing these records on a large-scale basis pursuant to
an OPRA request, and has been reaching out to the Municipal Court and
researching how other municipal police departments are providing
responsive records. We are requesting one more extension of five (5)
business days as we determine our process moving forward.    

Thank for your continued courtesy on this matter. 

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 1, 2022 3:26 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon, 

I am following up as to the status of your OPRA request to the City of
Elizabeth. At this time, we are still determining if your request can be
accommodated as there is no current system in place for retrieving these
records. Please allow an additional extension of five (5) business days to
either begin providing responsive records or advise if your request cannot
be accommodated.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2022 3:37 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

This email is in response to your request for public records to the City
Clerk pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
et seq. (OPRA). Within seven (7) business days, the City of Elizabeth then
requested additional time to respond to said request. 

You sought the following records: 

Complaint-Summons (CDR-1) from January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. 

Per my phone conversation with Executive Director Ben Shore, I advised
that additional time would be needed to provide these records as there are
approximately 150-175 responsive records and each record can only be
retrieved on a one-by-one basis. I asked if providing relevant police
incident reports would be a reasonable alternative to this OPRA request.
Alternatively, I offered to assess a special service charge as this may
involve an “extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate
the request,” as allowed by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c). Mr. Shore did not
necessarily agree a special service charge would be warranted and asked if
it was possible to provide 10-15 CDR-1 records per week.  

At this time, we are determining of this proposal is a reasonable solution
that would not substantially disrupt agency operations, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g). Please allow the records custodian until the end of
next week to either (1) begin providing responsive records or (2) advise
if your request for staggered record distribution cannot be accommodated.
 

We thank you for your patience and your willingness to work with us in
providing these records to you.

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

Good afternoon:
Attached please find twenty (20) CDR-1 records. Redactions have been made
per my previous email. Can you please confirm receipt?
Thank you,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2022 5:24 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon, 

Please be advised that the City will begin sending over CDR-1 records for
the month of January 2022 on a staggered weekly basis. To reiterate, Mr.
Shore made this suggestion on our phone conversation on or about March 25,
2022. The City will provide at least ten (10) reports per week starting
today, April 18, 2022. In a previous communication, I advised that the
Elizabeth Police Department has 150-175 responsive records. At that time,
I had not realized that this included both CDR-1 and CDR-2 complaints.
Because every arrest needs to be searched via the NJ Courts database to
determine whether the complaint is a summons or a warrant, we will not
know the full number of CDR-1 reports until every arrest for the month of
January 2022 has been searched on NJ Courts. I will advise when all
responsive records have been provided.  

Pursuant to the above plan, attached please find twelve (12) CDR-1
reports. Personal identifiable information such a unlisted phone numbers,
social security numbers, and driver's license numbers have been redacted
and will continue to be redacted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1.  

Please confirm receipt of this email and acceptance of the above.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 8, 2022 4:22 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

Please be advised additional time is needed to determine if providing
requested CDR-1 records will involve a substantial disruption of agency
activity even with your proposal of staggered distribution. We appreciate
your patience; your request for CDR-1 complaints-summonses is the first
made to the City following the N.J. Supreme Court decision of Simmons v.
Mercado, 247 N.J. 24 (2021). Accordingly, our Police Department is not
accustomed to accessing these records on a large-scale basis pursuant to
an OPRA request, and has been reaching out to the Municipal Court and
researching how other municipal police departments are providing
responsive records. We are requesting one more extension of five (5)
business days as we determine our process moving forward.    

Thank for your continued courtesy on this matter. 

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 1, 2022 3:26 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon, 

I am following up as to the status of your OPRA request to the City of
Elizabeth. At this time, we are still determining if your request can be
accommodated as there is no current system in place for retrieving these
records. Please allow an additional extension of five (5) business days to
either begin providing responsive records or advise if your request cannot
be accommodated.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2022 3:37 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

This email is in response to your request for public records to the City
Clerk pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
et seq. (OPRA). Within seven (7) business days, the City of Elizabeth then
requested additional time to respond to said request. 

You sought the following records: 

Complaint-Summons (CDR-1) from January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. 

Per my phone conversation with Executive Director Ben Shore, I advised
that additional time would be needed to provide these records as there are
approximately 150-175 responsive records and each record can only be
retrieved on a one-by-one basis. I asked if providing relevant police
incident reports would be a reasonable alternative to this OPRA request.
Alternatively, I offered to assess a special service charge as this may
involve an “extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate
the request,” as allowed by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c). Mr. Shore did not
necessarily agree a special service charge would be warranted and asked if
it was possible to provide 10-15 CDR-1 records per week.  

At this time, we are determining of this proposal is a reasonable solution
that would not substantially disrupt agency operations, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g). Please allow the records custodian until the end of
next week to either (1) begin providing responsive records or (2) advise
if your request for staggered record distribution cannot be accommodated.
 

We thank you for your patience and your willingness to work with us in
providing these records to you.

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

Good afternoon:
Attached please find fourteen (14) CDR-1 records. Redactions have been
made per my previous email. Can you please confirm receipt?
Thank you,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2022 4:13 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 
Good afternoon:
Attached please find twenty (20) CDR-1 records. Redactions have been made
per my previous email. Can you please confirm receipt?
Thank you,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2022 5:24 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon, 

Please be advised that the City will begin sending over CDR-1 records for
the month of January 2022 on a staggered weekly basis. To reiterate, Mr.
Shore made this suggestion on our phone conversation on or about March 25,
2022. The City will provide at least ten (10) reports per week starting
today, April 18, 2022. In a previous communication, I advised that the
Elizabeth Police Department has 150-175 responsive records. At that time,
I had not realized that this included both CDR-1 and CDR-2 complaints.
Because every arrest needs to be searched via the NJ Courts database to
determine whether the complaint is a summons or a warrant, we will not
know the full number of CDR-1 reports until every arrest for the month of
January 2022 has been searched on NJ Courts. I will advise when all
responsive records have been provided.  

Pursuant to the above plan, attached please find twelve (12) CDR-1
reports. Personal identifiable information such a unlisted phone numbers,
social security numbers, and driver's license numbers have been redacted
and will continue to be redacted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1.  

Please confirm receipt of this email and acceptance of the above.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 8, 2022 4:22 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

Please be advised additional time is needed to determine if providing
requested CDR-1 records will involve a substantial disruption of agency
activity even with your proposal of staggered distribution. We appreciate
your patience; your request for CDR-1 complaints-summonses is the first
made to the City following the N.J. Supreme Court decision of Simmons v.
Mercado, 247 N.J. 24 (2021). Accordingly, our Police Department is not
accustomed to accessing these records on a large-scale basis pursuant to
an OPRA request, and has been reaching out to the Municipal Court and
researching how other municipal police departments are providing
responsive records. We are requesting one more extension of five (5)
business days as we determine our process moving forward.    

Thank for your continued courtesy on this matter. 

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 1, 2022 3:26 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon, 

I am following up as to the status of your OPRA request to the City of
Elizabeth. At this time, we are still determining if your request can be
accommodated as there is no current system in place for retrieving these
records. Please allow an additional extension of five (5) business days to
either begin providing responsive records or advise if your request cannot
be accommodated.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2022 3:37 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

This email is in response to your request for public records to the City
Clerk pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
et seq. (OPRA). Within seven (7) business days, the City of Elizabeth then
requested additional time to respond to said request. 

You sought the following records: 

Complaint-Summons (CDR-1) from January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. 

Per my phone conversation with Executive Director Ben Shore, I advised
that additional time would be needed to provide these records as there are
approximately 150-175 responsive records and each record can only be
retrieved on a one-by-one basis. I asked if providing relevant police
incident reports would be a reasonable alternative to this OPRA request.
Alternatively, I offered to assess a special service charge as this may
involve an “extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate
the request,” as allowed by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c). Mr. Shore did not
necessarily agree a special service charge would be warranted and asked if
it was possible to provide 10-15 CDR-1 records per week.  

At this time, we are determining of this proposal is a reasonable solution
that would not substantially disrupt agency operations, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g). Please allow the records custodian until the end of
next week to either (1) begin providing responsive records or (2) advise
if your request for staggered record distribution cannot be accommodated.
 

We thank you for your patience and your willingness to work with us in
providing these records to you.

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

Good afternoon:
Attached please find fifteen (15) CDR-1 records. Redactions have been made
per my previous email of April 18, 2022. Please confirm receipt.
Thank you,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, May 5, 2022 4:48 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 
Good afternoon:
Attached please find fourteen (14) CDR-1 records. Redactions have been
made per my previous email. Can you please confirm receipt?
Thank you,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2022 4:13 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 
Good afternoon:
Attached please find twenty (20) CDR-1 records. Redactions have been made
per my previous email. Can you please confirm receipt?
Thank you,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2022 5:24 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon, 

Please be advised that the City will begin sending over CDR-1 records for
the month of January 2022 on a staggered weekly basis. To reiterate, Mr.
Shore made this suggestion on our phone conversation on or about March 25,
2022. The City will provide at least ten (10) reports per week starting
today, April 18, 2022. In a previous communication, I advised that the
Elizabeth Police Department has 150-175 responsive records. At that time,
I had not realized that this included both CDR-1 and CDR-2 complaints.
Because every arrest needs to be searched via the NJ Courts database to
determine whether the complaint is a summons or a warrant, we will not
know the full number of CDR-1 reports until every arrest for the month of
January 2022 has been searched on NJ Courts. I will advise when all
responsive records have been provided.  

Pursuant to the above plan, attached please find twelve (12) CDR-1
reports. Personal identifiable information such a unlisted phone numbers,
social security numbers, and driver's license numbers have been redacted
and will continue to be redacted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1.  

Please confirm receipt of this email and acceptance of the above.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 8, 2022 4:22 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

Please be advised additional time is needed to determine if providing
requested CDR-1 records will involve a substantial disruption of agency
activity even with your proposal of staggered distribution. We appreciate
your patience; your request for CDR-1 complaints-summonses is the first
made to the City following the N.J. Supreme Court decision of Simmons v.
Mercado, 247 N.J. 24 (2021). Accordingly, our Police Department is not
accustomed to accessing these records on a large-scale basis pursuant to
an OPRA request, and has been reaching out to the Municipal Court and
researching how other municipal police departments are providing
responsive records. We are requesting one more extension of five (5)
business days as we determine our process moving forward.    

Thank for your continued courtesy on this matter. 

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 1, 2022 3:26 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon, 

I am following up as to the status of your OPRA request to the City of
Elizabeth. At this time, we are still determining if your request can be
accommodated as there is no current system in place for retrieving these
records. Please allow an additional extension of five (5) business days to
either begin providing responsive records or advise if your request cannot
be accommodated.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2022 3:37 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

This email is in response to your request for public records to the City
Clerk pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
et seq. (OPRA). Within seven (7) business days, the City of Elizabeth then
requested additional time to respond to said request. 

You sought the following records: 

Complaint-Summons (CDR-1) from January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. 

Per my phone conversation with Executive Director Ben Shore, I advised
that additional time would be needed to provide these records as there are
approximately 150-175 responsive records and each record can only be
retrieved on a one-by-one basis. I asked if providing relevant police
incident reports would be a reasonable alternative to this OPRA request.
Alternatively, I offered to assess a special service charge as this may
involve an “extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate
the request,” as allowed by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c). Mr. Shore did not
necessarily agree a special service charge would be warranted and asked if
it was possible to provide 10-15 CDR-1 records per week.  

At this time, we are determining of this proposal is a reasonable solution
that would not substantially disrupt agency operations, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g). Please allow the records custodian until the end of
next week to either (1) begin providing responsive records or (2) advise
if your request for staggered record distribution cannot be accommodated.
 

We thank you for your patience and your willingness to work with us in
providing these records to you.

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

Good afternoon:
Attached please find twenty (20) CDR-1 records. Redactions have been made
per my previous email of April 18, 2022. This is the last batch of CDR-1
summonses for the month of January 2022 and all responsive records have
now been provided to you. If you have any questions or concerns regarding
your OPRA request and these records, please do not hesitate to reach out. 
Thank you,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2022 12:13 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 
Good afternoon:
Attached please find fifteen (15) CDR-1 records. Redactions have been made
per my previous email of April 18, 2022. Please confirm receipt.
Thank you,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, May 5, 2022 4:48 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 
Good afternoon:
Attached please find fourteen (14) CDR-1 records. Redactions have been
made per my previous email. Can you please confirm receipt?
Thank you,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2022 4:13 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 
Good afternoon:
Attached please find twenty (20) CDR-1 records. Redactions have been made
per my previous email. Can you please confirm receipt?
Thank you,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2022 5:24 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon, 

Please be advised that the City will begin sending over CDR-1 records for
the month of January 2022 on a staggered weekly basis. To reiterate, Mr.
Shore made this suggestion on our phone conversation on or about March 25,
2022. The City will provide at least ten (10) reports per week starting
today, April 18, 2022. In a previous communication, I advised that the
Elizabeth Police Department has 150-175 responsive records. At that time,
I had not realized that this included both CDR-1 and CDR-2 complaints.
Because every arrest needs to be searched via the NJ Courts database to
determine whether the complaint is a summons or a warrant, we will not
know the full number of CDR-1 reports until every arrest for the month of
January 2022 has been searched on NJ Courts. I will advise when all
responsive records have been provided.  

Pursuant to the above plan, attached please find twelve (12) CDR-1
reports. Personal identifiable information such a unlisted phone numbers,
social security numbers, and driver's license numbers have been redacted
and will continue to be redacted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1.  

Please confirm receipt of this email and acceptance of the above.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 8, 2022 4:22 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

Please be advised additional time is needed to determine if providing
requested CDR-1 records will involve a substantial disruption of agency
activity even with your proposal of staggered distribution. We appreciate
your patience; your request for CDR-1 complaints-summonses is the first
made to the City following the N.J. Supreme Court decision of Simmons v.
Mercado, 247 N.J. 24 (2021). Accordingly, our Police Department is not
accustomed to accessing these records on a large-scale basis pursuant to
an OPRA request, and has been reaching out to the Municipal Court and
researching how other municipal police departments are providing
responsive records. We are requesting one more extension of five (5)
business days as we determine our process moving forward.    

Thank for your continued courtesy on this matter. 

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, April 1, 2022 3:26 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon, 

I am following up as to the status of your OPRA request to the City of
Elizabeth. At this time, we are still determining if your request can be
accommodated as there is no current system in place for retrieving these
records. Please allow an additional extension of five (5) business days to
either begin providing responsive records or advise if your request cannot
be accommodated.   

Thank you, 

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Samantha J. Castrelos
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2022 3:37 PM
To: [OPRA #29582 email]
<[OPRA #29582 email]>
Cc: Grace D. Sequeira <[email address]>
Subject: OPRA Request (CDR-1 - January 2022)
 

Good afternoon,  

This email is in response to your request for public records to the City
Clerk pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
et seq. (OPRA). Within seven (7) business days, the City of Elizabeth then
requested additional time to respond to said request. 

You sought the following records: 

Complaint-Summons (CDR-1) from January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. 

Per my phone conversation with Executive Director Ben Shore, I advised
that additional time would be needed to provide these records as there are
approximately 150-175 responsive records and each record can only be
retrieved on a one-by-one basis. I asked if providing relevant police
incident reports would be a reasonable alternative to this OPRA request.
Alternatively, I offered to assess a special service charge as this may
involve an “extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate
the request,” as allowed by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c). Mr. Shore did not
necessarily agree a special service charge would be warranted and asked if
it was possible to provide 10-15 CDR-1 records per week.  

At this time, we are determining of this proposal is a reasonable solution
that would not substantially disrupt agency operations, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g). Please allow the records custodian until the end of
next week to either (1) begin providing responsive records or (2) advise
if your request for staggered record distribution cannot be accommodated.
 

We thank you for your patience and your willingness to work with us in
providing these records to you.

Sincerely,

Samantha J. Castrelos, Esq. 
Special Counsel 
City of Elizabeth, Law Department
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Room 201
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
(908) 820-4009