Dear Middle Township,

This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Records requested:

- Any copies (email, mail, and/or other communication or documentation subject to NJOPRA) of letters sent to Middle Township property owners over the last five years regarding sewer underbilling situations.
- Copies of any invoices (email, mail, or other communication and/or documentation subject to NJOPRA) for underbilled sewer service fees or usage for these properties over the last five years.
- Copies of any settlements (email, mail, or other communication and/or documentation subject to NJOPRA) reached for underbilled sewer properties over the last five years.

Yours faithfully,

Cape Media Holdings LLC

Dear Emily Bowman,

Thank you for your prompt response.

I would be happy to help clarify my request so that it is easier for you to locate the identifiable records I requested.

I can assist in two ways.
#1 The type of identifiable records I am requesting are copies of letters sent out from the sewer department to customers in Middle Township regarding sewer underbillings that were discovered or reported to said department. I am also requesting copies of associated sewer application forms on file for said underbillings. A specific real-life example would be letters sent out to customers that were identified as having sewers in unbilled accessory garages or living quarters. This link will provide you an image an example certified letter sent from Mr. S. Mills in the sewer department to a customer requesting application and connection fees for an unbilled sewer property. https://ibb.co/StSJdG6 This link will provide you an image of an associated sewer application form for said case. https://ibb.co/s6mHR23 I would like a copy of all similar letters and associated forms fitting the above description (not redacted) sent or filed over the last fives years. I assume these letters and forms were preserved as is legally mandated by The State of New Jersey's Department of Treasury and Board of Public Utility's record retention schedule requirements for municipalities and utilities.

#2 While I believe the information provided above should be suffice in satisfying OPRA's requirement to "provide reasonable clarity for the specific government records sought" I will try be more specific about which Township employees I am requesting records from. I am requesting records from employees that worked in the sewer department over the last five years and had the role of sending out the above mentioned letters or filing the associated forms including but not limited to S. Mills or any of his current or former colleagues in the sewer department or other municipal government divisions that also completed these job tasks.

Yours sincerely,

Cape Media Holdings LLC

Dear Emily Bowman,

Thank you for your reply.

I have two questions:
#1 Will there be a cost associated with this request and if so do you have an estimate of this cost?
#2 While I would like to obtain a full five years of these records, can you please provide me an estimate of the time extension needed for only two years.

Yours sincerely,

Cape Media Holdings LLC

Dear Emily Bowman,

Thank you for this information. Please proceed with the original request as submitted.

I would like to state for the public record that I find it to be a curious coincidence that this request will take Middle Township three months to fulfill since it is for a department supervised by Deputy Mayor Theron “Ike” Gandy, who will be running for re-election only a few days after the estimated delivery date.

I truly hope that politics are not influencing this OPRA request made in good faith.

Yours sincerely,

Cape Media Holdings LLC