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 12 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 delinquent properties and the vacant
and abandoned property list. There are no documents responsive to your
request for, “Water Shut Off / Utility Liens - A list of all property
addresses that have had their water bill liened against”, "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:

 

From 09/01/2025 – 12/1/2025 – there were only 2 type 111 structure fire
calls.

 

 

Please submit all OPRA (public records) requests through the on-line
portal:

[1]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 [2][email address], or
at their web site at [3]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
[4][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

 

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