Paper usage
Dear Hamilton Township (Atlantic),
This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Records requested:
Respectfully requesting to know total amount of paper used in copier for the FY 2018 by the Hamilton township of Hamilton police department
Yours faithfully,
Jaxon Nelson
Mr. Nelson,
Good morning. We are seeking clarification to your request. Could you
please give me a call at the number below so we can try to help with your
request.
Thank you,
Sgt. Guerrier
Sergeant Joseph Guerrier
911 Communications Supervisor
Twp. Of Hamilton Police Department
6101 13^th St, Mays Landing NJ 08330
(609) 625-2700 Ext: 519
[1][email address]
References
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1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Guerrier, Joseph,
I prefer not to contact you directly. To be more specific I would like to know the total amount of paper generated in your police department over the forth mention time frame. The paper generated can be counted by indicating the total amount of items printed on any printer or copier used for official use within your department.
Yours sincerely,
Jaxon Nelson
Jaxon Nelson
[OPRA #8532 email]
RE: OPRA 1327 Response
Mr. Nelson,
We received your OPRA request on Monday, December 9th, 2019. This response is being sent 3 business days after our communication for clarification. Your OPRA request sought access to the following:
“Respectfully requesting to know total amount of paper used in copier for the FY 2018 by the Hamilton township of Hamilton police department." And, "I would like to know the total amount of paper generated in your police department over the forth mention time frame. The paper generated can be counted by indicating the total amount of items printed on any printer or copier used for official use within your department."
This request seeks information or asks questions and does not identify specific government records. As such, your request is an invalid OPRA request and is denied. When a request is “complex” because it fails to specifically identify the documents sought, then that request is not “encompassed” by OPRA. See New Jersey Builders Association v. New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing, 390 N.J.Super. 166, 180 (App. Div. 2007). A proper request under OPRA must identify with reasonable clarity those documents that are desired, and a party cannot satisfy this requirement by simply requesting all of an agency’s documents. See Bent v. Stafford Police Department, 381 N.J.Super. 30, 37 (App. Div. 2005). Custodians are not required to conduct research or create new records in response to an OPRA request. Please submit a new OPRA request identifying the documents you are requesting no later than December 26th, 2019. If we do not receive a response from you by this date our office will consider this OPRA request closed.
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 Hamilton 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 website 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.
Respectfully,
Sgt. J. Guerrier