Opra Request
Dear Jefferson Township,
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 use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
Tax Delinquent
- A list of all property addresses that have an unpaid property tax bill for the last 6 months. Please also include in the list or separately a list of properties whose property tax bill was liened against the property.
Water Shut Off / Utility Liens
- A list of all property addresses that have had their water bill liened against the property, have failed to pay their water bill, or have had the water shut off at any point in the last 6 months.
Fire Damage List
- A list of all property addresses that the fire department has received an emergency call to in the last 90 days.
Code Violation
- A list of property addresses that have received any code violations in the last 6 months
Vacant List
- A list of all properties that the city deems to be currently vacant or abandoned.
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,
Nathan
Dear Nathan:
The Jefferson Township Clerk’s Office received your request (the “Request”) under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. (“OPRA”) on July 29, 2025. In your request, you sought access to the following:
Records requested:
Tax Delinquent
- A list of all property addresses that have an unpaid property tax bill for the last 6 months. Please also include in the list or separately a list of properties whose property tax bill was liened against the property.
Water Shut Off / Utility Liens
- A list of all property addresses that have had their water bill liened against the property, have failed to pay their water bill, or have had the water shut off at any point in the last 6 months.
Fire Damage List
- A list of all property addresses that the fire department has received an emergency call to in the last 90 days.
Code Violation
- A list of property addresses that have received any code violations in the last 6 months
Vacant List
- A list of all properties that the city deems to be currently vacant or abandoned.
Response: Please see attached listings of tax delinquent properties, tax liens, water utility liens, water utility delinquent properties and the vacant and abandoned property list. There are no documents responsive to your request for, " Code Violation - A list of property addresses that have received any code violations in the last 6 months" or "Fire Damage List - A list of all property addresses that the fire department has received an emergency call to in the last 90 days".
In an attempt to be helpful, the Fire Official reported the following:
Type 111 building fire, has one reported fire:
Date Range – April 1, 2025 – July 15, 2025
• June 10, 2025 - 20 Vassar Rd.
Please submit all OPRA (public records) requests through the on-line portal:
https://jefferson.seamlessdocs.com/f/OPRA
Using the on-line portal is important as:
-it displays confirmation that the request has been submitted
-it sends an email confirmation that the request has been submitted
-it assigns a tracking number to the request
-it sends the request to the appropriate group email account
-it allows the requestor to email (to themselves) a copy of the document
I appreciate your anticipated cooperation in using the on-line portal, as your email may be marked as spam when using other programs and delay the Clerk’s Office receipt of the request.
If you have questions about how to use the portal please contact the Clerk’s Office.
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 Township of Jefferson 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.
If you have any questions, please contact me either via email at [email address] or by telephone at 973-208-6132.
Best Regards,
Amanda L. Nevins, RMC, CMR
Deputy Township Clerk
Township of Jefferson
1033 Weldon Rd
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
973-208-6132
I apologize, the Vacant and Abandoned Property List was not attached.
Best Regards,
Amanda L. Nevins, RMC, CMR
Deputy Township Clerk
Township of Jefferson
1033 Weldon Rd
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
973-208-6132