Dear Mr. Kim:

The Township of North Bergen (the “Township”) received your request under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., on May 27, 2020, seeking “[a]ll purchase order history from 2012 to 2019 for the police department.”

In response to your request, the Township has uploaded responsive records for the period July 1, 2017 through 2019. Please note that on the medical files that employees’ names have been redacted in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-9, and E.O. 26 (McGreevy), as confidential information relating to medical, psychiatric or psychological history, diagnosis, treatment or evaluation.

The Township may have additional responsive documents in its capital, trust and grant accounts, but to provide such records, a Township employee will be required to manually review those accounts to separate out the records that are specific to the Police Department. Due to the time required for such a production, the Township will assess a special service charge pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c) for the review. If you desire these records, kindly advise the Township, and the Township will calculate the estimated charge.

The Township does not have electronic access to purchase orders for the period preceding July 2017. The Township estimates that it would take an employee at least one month’s time to review and locate its paper records and produce responsive purchase orders. Due to the nature and volume of the request, the Township will assess a special service charge, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c), for the search. If you wish to proceed with this request, kindly advise the Township so that it may calculate an estimated charge.

As with any OPRA request, you have the right to challenge the decision by the Township 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 PO Box 819, Trenton, NJ 08625, by e-mail at [email address], or at their web site 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.

Erin Barillas, RMC
Township Clerk
Township of North Bergen
4233 Kennedy Boulevard
North Bergen, NJ 07047
[North Bergen Township request email]
201-392-2024 (phone)
201-330-7694 (fax)

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