Copies of communications with the City of Cape May regarding delinquent water bills
Dear West Cape May Borough,
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:
1. Copies of any and all correspondence, including but not limited to, email communications, letters or other written documents between the Borough of West Cape May and the City of Cape May, NJ during the time period from December 1, 2024 through August 17, 2025 regarding the billing, payments, delinquencies, disputes of water meter readings, discussions of payments and/or water bills, from the City of Cape May to the Borough of West Cape May, NJ.
2. Copies of invoices for water bills from the City of Cape May, NJ to the Borough of West Cape May, NJ for the time period from December 1, 2024 through August 17, 2025.
3. Copies of payment records for water bills from the City of Cape May, NJ paid by the Borough of West Cape May from December 1, 2024 through August 17, 2025.
4. Copies of the Borough of West Cape May gross water meter readings which document the amount of gallons of water the meter(s) displayed for the time period from December 1, 2024 through August 17, 2025. Said records to include the document the readings are recorded, the date recorded and amount recorded.
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 Rafone
Dear West Cape May Borough,
Please be advised that I made my initial request for documents pertaining to water billings and communications between the Borough of West Cape May and City of Cape May, NJ was made in writing on August 17, 2025 and by NJ law, you should have at least replied by August 26, 2025. While I realize your office is busy, I would appreciate the status of this request.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Very truly yours,
Michael Rafone
Dear Mr. Rafone,
It was my understanding that you requested this through Cape May City, the City Clerk forwarded it to me and then she rescinded saying it was hers to respond to. If you are requesting records from West Cape May please re-send your request and direct it to WCM not the City.
Thank you,
Theresa Enteado, RMC, CMR
Municipal Clerk
Registrar of Vital Statistics
Borough of West Cape May
732 Broadway
West Cape May, NJ 08204
The Borough is an equal opportunity provider and employer
P: 609-884-1005 ext 101
F: 609-898-0888
Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8am – 3pm
[West Cape May Borough request email]
www.westcapemay.us
This e-mail transmission may contain confidential or legally privileged information that is intended only for the individual or entity named in the e-mail address. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or reliance upon the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail transmission in error, please reply to the sender, so that the Borough of West Cape May can arrange for proper delivery, and then please delete the message. Thank You.
Dear Ms. Enteado,
My original OPRA request made on August 17, 2025 was directed to West Cape May. Please note my request is still outstanding and is as follows:
Dear West Cape May Borough,
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:
1. Copies of any and all correspondence, including but not limited to, email communications, letters or other written documents between the Borough of West Cape May and the City of Cape May, NJ during the time period from December 1, 2024 through August 17, 2025 regarding the billing, payments, delinquencies, disputes of water meter readings, discussions of payments and/or water bills, from the City of Cape May to the Borough of West Cape May, NJ.
2. Copies of invoices for water bills from the City of Cape May, NJ to the Borough of West Cape May, NJ for the time period from December 1, 2024 through August 17, 2025.
3. Copies of payment records for water bills from the City of Cape May, NJ paid by the Borough of West Cape May from December 1, 2024 through August 17, 2025.
4. Copies of the Borough of West Cape May gross water meter readings which document the amount of gallons of water the meter(s) displayed for the time period from December 1, 2024 through August 17, 2025. Said records to include the document the readings are recorded, the date recorded and amount recorded.
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 sincerely,
Michael Rafone
Good Afternoon,
There appears to have been a miscommunication and/or understanding on my part. I believed this was handled by Cape May City.
I have attached responsive records to your requests numbered 2, 3, & 4, as well as partial response to your request number 1. I will need time to compile emails from the time period you are requesting.
Theresa Enteado, RMC, CMR
Municipal Clerk
Registrar of Vital Statistics
Borough of West Cape May
732 Broadway
West Cape May, NJ 08204
The Borough is an equal opportunity provider and employer
P: 609-884-1005 ext 101
F: 609-898-0888
Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8am – 3pm
[West Cape May Borough request email]
www.westcapemay.us
This e-mail transmission may contain confidential or legally privileged information that is intended only for the individual or entity named in the e-mail address. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or reliance upon the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail transmission in error, please reply to the sender, so that the Borough of West Cape May can arrange for proper delivery, and then please delete the message. Thank You.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.b., there is no cost for these documents, as the response is being submitted to you via email.
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 Borough of West Cape May 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.
Mr. Rafone,
Attached you will find responsive records to your request:
1. Copies of any and all correspondence, including but not limited to, email communications, letters or other written documents between the Borough of West Cape May and the City of Cape May, NJ during the time period from December 1, 2024 through August 17, 2025 regarding the billing, payments, delinquencies, disputes of water meter readings, discussions of payments and/or water bills, from the City of Cape May to the Borough of West Cape May, NJ.
PLEASE NOTE the all redactions to the attached records are because of attorney-client privilege – i.e., confidential info to or from the borough solicitor.
Theresa Enteado, RMC, CMR
Municipal Clerk
Registrar of Vital Statistics
Records Custodian
Borough of West Cape May
732 Broadway
West Cape May, NJ 08204
The Borough is an equal opportunity provider and employer
P: 609-884-1005 ext 101
F: 609-898-0888
Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8am – 3pm
[West Cape May Borough request email]
www.westcapemay.us
This e-mail transmission may contain confidential or legally privileged information that is intended only for the individual or entity named in the e-mail address. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or reliance upon the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail transmission in error, please reply to the sender, so that the Borough of West Cape May can arrange for proper delivery, and then please delete the message. Thank You.