Payroll/Cashed out sick pay or cashed out vacation pay records for Jeffrey Bertrand and Michael Steitz
Sent 3:58 PM
Dear Wall 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 NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
1) Payroll/Cashed out sick pay or cashed out vacation pay for Jeffrey Bertrand showing any checks issued for the time period of July 1, 2025 through 2/1/2026 and any attachments mailed with the check(s).
2) Cashed out sick pay or cashed out vacation pay for Michael Steitz showing any checks issued for the time period of September 30, 2024 through 2/1/2026 and any attachments mailed with the check(s).
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments ONLY not links. Please confirm you have received this request.
Regards,
Betsy Cross
The Township is in receipt of your OPRA request. Response is due on or before 2/24/2026. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact this office.
Roberta M. Lang, RMC, CMR
Township Clerk, Registrar of Vital Statistics
2700 Allaire Road Wall NJ 07719
(732)449-8444 extension 2200
Visit us at http://wallnj.com/211/Clerks-Office
Ms. Cross:
The Township received your Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request for:
1) Payroll/Cashed out sick pay or cashed out vacation pay for Jeffrey Bertrand showing any checks issued for the time period of July 1, 2025 through 2/1/2026 and any attachments mailed with the check(s).
2) Cashed out sick pay or cashed out vacation pay for Michael Steitz showing any checks issued for the time period of September 30, 2024 through 2/1/2026 and any attachments mailed with the check(s).
The Township will require an extension that records custodians are allowed prior to granting access to a government record pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(i). You can expect to receive the Township’s response to your OPRA request on or about March 2, 2026, accordingly.
Please be sure to reference insert OPRA number here in the subject line on all correspondence.
Keri Pagnoni, RMC, CMR
Deputy Clerk, Deputy Registrar
2700 Allaire Road
Wall, NJ 07719
(732)449-8444 ext. 2262
Fax: (732)449-8992
Visit us at http://wallnj.com/211/Clerks-Office
Dear Ms. Cross:
The Township of Wall (“Township”) records custodian received your Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) and common law request (“Request”) on February 13, 2026. On February 24, 2026, the Township obtained an extension of the response deadline until March 2, 2026. As such, the Township is timely responding to your Request in accordance with New Jersey law.
Your Request seeks the following records:
1) Payroll/Cashed out sick pay or cashed out vacation pay for Jeffrey Bertrand showing any checks issued for the time period of July 1, 2025 through 2/1/2026 and any attachments mailed with the check(s).
2) Payroll/Cashed out sick pay or cashed out vacation pay for Michael Steitz showing any checks issued for the time period of September 30, 2024 through 2/1/2026 and any attachments mailed with the check(s).
The Township conducted a good-faith search and identified the enclosed three pages of records as responsive. Please be advised that redactions have been implemented to remove financial account numbers pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1 (exempting “that portion of any document which discloses bank account information” from the definition of a “government record”). See Yoskin v. N.J. Dep’t of Environmental Protection, GRC Complaint No. 2009-117 (2010) (holding that bank account and routing numbers should be redacted because “its disclosure may lead to improprieties or theft”). Additionally, pay deductions have been redacted pursuant to Executive Order 26 (McGreevey 2002). See O’Shea v. West Milford (Passaic), GRC Complaint No. 2008-283 (2009) (holding that itemized deductions are not included in the definition of a payroll record and are exempt from disclosure).
Lastly, the home addresses of Messrs. Steitz and Bertrand have been redacted as same constitute “personnel records” within the meaning of N.J.S.A. 47:1A-10, and thus are shielded from public access accordingly. See McGee v. Twp. of East Amwell (Hunterdon), 416 N.J. Super. 602 (App. Div. 2010). None of the exceptions within N.J.S.A. 47:1A-10 that require certain personnel records to be made available for public access in particular circumstances are applicable to these records.
Your Request is now deemed answered and closed.
Very truly yours,
Keri Pagnoni, RMC, CMR
Deputy Clerk, Deputy Registrar
2700 Allaire Road
Wall, NJ 07719
(732)449-8444 ext. 2262
Fax: (732)449-8992
Visit us at http://wallnj.com/211/Clerks-Office