Dear Pompton Lakes 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:

I am submitting an OPRA for the definition of “other expenses” under the police budget line in the annual report. There are two “other expenses” named, one line for under the police section, and one line for under police reserve. What expenses, inclusive of even the smallest item of cost, are included in these two line item categories? I would like to know the definitions as indicated above for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025.

I read some very concerning things on a website called PomptonLakesLawsuits.com and would like to know just how money is being allocated.

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,

Mike Piazerella

Dear Elizabeth Brandsness,

Thank you for your reply. Either copies of receipts or purchase orders which are categorized as “other expenses” for the police would work to show what that category contains, or a letter from the auditor who evaluates the finances would suffice to list out what types of expenses that category contains— perhaps it makes more sense to have the “other expenses” defined in writing in a letter or email rather than have the town gather lots of receipts. If there is already a document or file which defines the expenses, I would also take that.

Thank you for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Mike