In regards to you below OPRA request:

Majority of your request, due to the age of the documents are on microfilm and will have to be located in storage, formatted (from microfilm), reviewed and redacted.

OPRA allows public agencies to impose special service charges whenever the nature, format, manner of collation, or volume of a government record embodied in the form of printed matter to be inspected, examined, or copied pursuant to this section is such that the record cannot be reproduced by ordinary document copying equipment in ordinary business size or when fulfilling a request requires an extraordinary expenditure of time and effort. See N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.c. Special service charges must be based upon the actual direct cost of providing the copy or copies.

OPRA mandates that the requestor shall have the opportunity to review and object to the charge prior to it being incurred. See N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.c. As such, a detailed estimate is provided below:

Special Service Change in the amount of $57.00 (calculated by the number of hours x the hourly rate of the lowest paid employee in that department capable of performing such task..... 3 hours x $19.00/hr.)

[Identify lowest level employee capable of fulfilling the request, their direct hourly rate (minus fringe benefits), the number of hours anticipated to complete request and the total estimated special service charge].

Kindly respond in writing with your acceptance or rejection of this estimated charge. We will not begin to process this request until we receive your written acceptance.

If you reject the estimated charge and you wish to challenge the special service charge, you have a right to challenge the decision. 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.

Sincerely,

Jessica L. Larney, RMC/CMR
Assistant Municipal Clerk
Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics

Office of the Township Clerk/Vital Statistics
401 Chambers Bridge Road
Brick, New Jersey 08723
732-262-1003

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