November 10, 2021

Dear Sir or Madam,

This correspondence is being sent in response to the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request you submitted to the Ridgewood Public Schools. As the official Records Custodian, I received this request on November 9, 2021. As such, the seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is November 18, 2021. I will be sending a response to your request within this deadline.

If your request for access to a government record has been denied or unfilled within the seven business days required by law, you have a right to challenge the Board’s decision 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 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, New Jersey, 08625, by e-mail at [email address], or at their website at www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council 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.

Scott T. Bisig, M.Ed.
Business Administrator/Board Secretary
Ridgewood Public Schools

November 18, 2021

Dear Sir or Madam,

As the official Records Custodian, I received your Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request on November 9, 2021. The seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is November 18, 2021. As such, the District is timely responding to your OPRA request in accordance with New Jersey law.

Your OPRA request seeks the following records:

Records requested: please provide copies of all invoices paid to Sciarrillo, Cornell, Merlino, McKeever & Osborne, LLC since the firm was replaced by the new legal counsel in 2020. It is my understanding that Sciarrillo, Cornell, Merlino, McKeever & Osborne, LLC is still being paid by the Board of Education.

The District requires additional time to compile, review, and redact (if necessary) the documents that may be responsive to your request. The District anticipates finalizing your request by November 10, 2021. The District also reserves the right to request an additional extension of time, if necessary. See Scheeler v. New Jersey Department of Educ., GRC Complaint No. 2014-123 (2016).

Sincerely,

Scott T. Bisig
Business Administrator
Ridgewood Public Schools

November 19, 2021

Dear K. Samuels,

I am in receipt of your OPRA request dated November 9, 2021 requesting copies of the legal fees incurred since January 1, 2021 with regard to the law firm of Sciarrillo, Cornell, Merlino, McKeever & Osborne.

In response to your request for the amount of the fees, please see the attached table. Please be advised that if you require copies of the actual invoices, there will be a special services charge for my time and that of our IT professionals, secretarial overtime, administration, and attorney review for an estimated 30 hours to redact student/personnel/litigation identifying entries and matters that are not subject to disclosure. Total estimated cost is $4500.00. A 15% deposit of $675.00 would be due to begin the process, with the balance of $3,825.00 due when the invoices have been reviewed and redacted, if applicable. Please make checks payable to the Ridgewood Board of Education. Once full payment is received, responses will be sent to you by electronic mail within 10 days.

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 district’s decision 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 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, New Jersey 08625, by email at [email address] , or at their website at www.state.nj.us/grc . The Council 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,

Scott T. Bisig
Business Administrator
Ridgewood Public Schools