Opra Request
Dear Garwood Borough,
Under penalty of NJSA 2C:28-3, I certify that:
I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, or any other state of the United States.
I, or another person WILL use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding
I am also requesting the documents under common law.
It would be preferable to receive requested documents on this site.
Records requested for the Following Dates: January 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026
1. Tax Delinquent
A list of property addresses with delinquent property taxes, including the corresponding outstanding balances.
2. Open Property Liens
A list of property addresses with open property liens, including the outstanding lien amounts.
3. Water / Utility Shut-Offs
A list of property addresses where water service or other utilities were shut off during the date range, including the balance that led to the shut-off.
4. Code Violations
A list of property addresses that received code violations during the date range, including the violation type.
Please limit the list to unresolved or open violations and exclude closed violations.
5. Vacant / Abandoned Properties
A list of residential property addresses classified as vacant or abandoned.
6. Condemned Properties
A list of residential property addresses designated as condemned.
7. Fire Department Emergency Responses
A list of property addresses where the fire department responded to an emergency call during the date range.
Please include complete property addresses for each list.
Please provide each list in a separate Excel or PDF file.
If current data is not available, please provide the most recent version maintained by your office.
This request seeks only existing lists maintained by your office, not individual property files or case-specific documents.
Please provide a confirmation email acknowledging that my OPRA request has been received by your office.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and thank you in advance for your work.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Tapiavala
I am writing in response to your request pursuant to the Open Public
Records Act (“OPRA”). You requested the following from January 1, 2026 -
March 31, 2026
1. Tax Delinquent - A list of property addresses with delinquent property
taxes, including the corresponding outstanding balances.
2. Open Property Liens - A list of property addresses with open property
liens, including the outstanding lien amounts.
3. Water / Utility Shut-Offs - A list of property addresses where water
service or other utilities were shut off during the date range, including
the balance that led to the shut-off.
4. Code Violations - A list of property addresses that received code
violations during the date range, including the violation type. Please
limit the list to unresolved or open violations and exclude closed
violations.
5. Vacant / Abandoned Properties - A list of residential property
addresses classified as vacant or abandoned.
6. Condemned Properties - A list of residential property addresses
designated as condemned.
7. Fire Department Emergency Responses - A list of property addresses
where the fire department responded to an emergency call during the date
range.
Please be advised that, P.L. 2024, c. 16, which became effective September
3, 2024, provided changes to OPRA legislation. One of the changes being if
an OPRA request is for "Commercial Purposes" (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5,(g)), then
the response time is extended from seven (7) business days to fourteen
(14) business days, given that the custodian of record notifies the
requestor of the additional time within seven (7) business days. N.J.S.A.
47:1A-5(i).
Given that the Borough is required to compile, review and redact the
records you have requested for Commercial Purposes, the Borough
anticipates finalizing your request by May 4, 2026. The Borough 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).
Thank you,
Nicole Kotiga, RMC, CMR
Clerk, Borough of Garwood
Registrar, BOH Secretary, Licensing Official
Email: [email address]
Phone: (908) 789-0710
403 South Avenue, Garwood, NJ 07027
Peter Tapiavala,
Attached please find a portion of records that are responsive to your Open
Public Records Act request.
Please note that the Borough of Garwood is still in the process of
reviewing other potentially responsive documents. Assuming other
responsive documents exist, we will get them to you as soon they are
available. We reserve the right to withhold and/or redact any records or
information that may be exempt from disclosure under the Open Public
Records Act, and/or other applicable legal privileges including, but not
limited to, attorney work product and attorney client privileges.
Thank you,
[1]created with Nicole Kotiga, RMC, CMR
MySignature.io Clerk, Borough of Garwood
Registrar, BOH Secretary, Licensing Official
Email: [2][email address]
Phone: (908) 789-0710
403 South Avenue, Garwood, NJ 07027
From: Nicole Kotiga <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2026 3:09 PM
To: Peter <[OPRA #90229 email]>; Clerk
<[Garwood Borough request email]>
Subject: OPRA request - 26-70
I am writing in response to your request pursuant to the Open Public
Records Act (“OPRA”). You requested the following from January 1, 2026 -
March 31, 2026
1. Tax Delinquent - A list of property addresses with delinquent property
taxes, including the corresponding outstanding balances.
2. Open Property Liens - A list of property addresses with open property
liens, including the outstanding lien amounts.
3. Water / Utility Shut-Offs - A list of property addresses where water
service or other utilities were shut off during the date range, including
the balance that led to the shut-off.
4. Code Violations - A list of property addresses that received code
violations during the date range, including the violation type. Please
limit the list to unresolved or open violations and exclude closed
violations.
5. Vacant / Abandoned Properties - A list of residential property
addresses classified as vacant or abandoned.
6. Condemned Properties - A list of residential property addresses
designated as condemned.
7. Fire Department Emergency Responses - A list of property addresses
where the fire department responded to an emergency call during the date
range.
Please be advised that, P.L. 2024, c. 16, which became effective September
3, 2024, provided changes to OPRA legislation. One of the changes being if
an OPRA request is for "Commercial Purposes" (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5,(g)), then
the response time is extended from seven (7) business days to fourteen
(14) business days, given that the custodian of record notifies the
requestor of the additional time within seven (7) business days. N.J.S.A.
47:1A-5(i).
Given that the Borough is required to compile, review and redact the
records you have requested for Commercial Purposes, the Borough
anticipates finalizing your request by May 4, 2026. The Borough 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).
Thank you,
Nicole Kotiga, RMC, CMR
Clerk, Borough of Garwood
Registrar, BOH Secretary, Licensing Official
Email: [3][email address]
Phone: (908) 789-0710
403 South Avenue, Garwood, NJ 07027
Peter Tapiavala,
In response to your OPRA request, attached please find the remaining
records responsive to your request. In addition, please be advised that
the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Property Maintenance Officer conducted
a search of their records and found no records responsive to your request.
In addition, there were no records responsive to number three (3) of your
request.
Please be advised that the Borough shares Building Services with the
Township of Cranford and encourage you to additionally submit an OPRA
request for any construction inquires to Patricia Donahue at
[1][email address].
Your OPRA request is now deemed answered and closed.
[2]created with Nicole Kotiga, RMC, CMR
MySignature.io Clerk, Borough of Garwood
Registrar, BOH Secretary, Licensing Official
Email: [3][email address]
Phone: (908) 789-0710
403 South Avenue, Garwood, NJ 07027
From: Nicole Kotiga
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 12:56 PM
To: Peter <[OPRA #90229 email]>; Clerk
<[Garwood Borough request email]>
Subject: RE: OPRA request - 26-70
Peter Tapiavala,
Attached please find a portion of records that are responsive to your Open
Public Records Act request.
Please note that the Borough of Garwood is still in the process of
reviewing other potentially responsive documents. Assuming other
responsive documents exist, we will get them to you as soon they are
available. We reserve the right to withhold and/or redact any records or
information that may be exempt from disclosure under the Open Public
Records Act, and/or other applicable legal privileges including, but not
limited to, attorney work product and attorney client privileges.
Thank you,
[4]created with Nicole Kotiga, RMC, CMR
MySignature.io Clerk, Borough of Garwood
Registrar, BOH Secretary, Licensing Official
Email: [5][email address]
Phone: (908) 789-0710
403 South Avenue, Garwood, NJ 07027
From: Nicole Kotiga <[6][email address]>
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2026 3:09 PM
To: Peter <[7][OPRA #90229 email]>; Clerk
<[8][Garwood Borough request email]>
Subject: OPRA request - 26-70
I am writing in response to your request pursuant to the Open Public
Records Act (“OPRA”). You requested the following from January 1, 2026 -
March 31, 2026
1. Tax Delinquent - A list of property addresses with delinquent property
taxes, including the corresponding outstanding balances.
2. Open Property Liens - A list of property addresses with open property
liens, including the outstanding lien amounts.
3. Water / Utility Shut-Offs - A list of property addresses where water
service or other utilities were shut off during the date range, including
the balance that led to the shut-off.
4. Code Violations - A list of property addresses that received code
violations during the date range, including the violation type. Please
limit the list to unresolved or open violations and exclude closed
violations.
5. Vacant / Abandoned Properties - A list of residential property
addresses classified as vacant or abandoned.
6. Condemned Properties - A list of residential property addresses
designated as condemned.
7. Fire Department Emergency Responses - A list of property addresses
where the fire department responded to an emergency call during the date
range.
Please be advised that, P.L. 2024, c. 16, which became effective September
3, 2024, provided changes to OPRA legislation. One of the changes being if
an OPRA request is for "Commercial Purposes" (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5,(g)), then
the response time is extended from seven (7) business days to fourteen
(14) business days, given that the custodian of record notifies the
requestor of the additional time within seven (7) business days. N.J.S.A.
47:1A-5(i).
Given that the Borough is required to compile, review and redact the
records you have requested for Commercial Purposes, the Borough
anticipates finalizing your request by May 4, 2026. The Borough 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).
Thank you,
Nicole Kotiga, RMC, CMR
Clerk, Borough of Garwood
Registrar, BOH Secretary, Licensing Official
Email: [9][email address]
Phone: (908) 789-0710
403 South Avenue, Garwood, NJ 07027
Dear Nicole Kotiga,
Thank you for providing the file I requested — I really appreciate it.
Yours sincerely,
Peter