Re-Warding Commission Records
Charlie Kratovil made this OPRA request to Monroe Township (Middlesex) as part of a batch sent to 5 authorities This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.
Dear Monroe Township (Middlesex),
Under OPRA and the common law right of access, please provide copies of:
1) the resolution adopted for Re-Warding Commissioner compensation,
2) copies of all "scenarios" (maps) submitted to the Re-Warding Commission for consideration, including but not limited to those submitted by Remington Vernick Engineers, Re-Warding Commissioners, and members of the public,
3) copies of all correspondence, including email messages and attachments, sent from the Municipal Clerk to Thomas Lynch, or from Thomas Lynch to the Municipal Clerk, between December 16, 2020 and January 26, 2022, regarding the following topics: wards, ward boundaries, maps, scenarios, Re-Warding, and/or the Re-Warding Commission,
4) copies of the final ward boundary map adopted by the Re-Warding Commission.
Please confirm you have received this request, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you kindly.
Yours faithfully,
Charlie Kratovil
Township of Monroe
Open Records Request
Reference # OPRA-2022-00091
Dear Charlie Kratovil,
This email is to confirm submission of your Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request to the Township of Monroe. Additional emails will be sent upon
processing of your request.
The request seeks access to the following records:
1) the resolution adopted for Re-Warding Commissioner compensation,
2) copies of all `scenarios` (maps) submitted to the Re-Warding Commission
for consideration, including but not limited to those submitted by
Remington Vernick Engineers, Re-Warding Commissioners, and members of the
public,
3) copies of all correspondence, including email messages and attachments,
sent from the Municipal Clerk to Thomas Lynch, or from Thomas Lynch to the
Municipal Clerk, between December 16, 2020 and January 26, 2022, regarding
the following topics: wards, ward boundaries, maps, scenarios,
Re-Warding, and/or the Re-Warding Commission,
4) copies of the final ward boundary map adopted by the Re-Warding
Commission.
A copy of the request is attached for your records.
This is an automated email, please do not reply. If you have questions,
comments or need to clarify your OPRA request, please call (732) 656-4574
or email [1][email address] or [2][Monroe Township (Middlesex) request email] and quote
the OPRA reference number above.
Sincerely,
Township of Monroe
Office of Township Clerk
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[Monroe Township (Middlesex) request email]
Township of Monroe
Open Records Request
Reference # OPRA-2022-00091
Dear Charlie Kratovil,
This email is to confirm receipt of your Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request by the Township of Monroe. The Custodian of Records received your
request on 01/27/2022. As such, the seven (7) business day deadline to
respond to your request is 02/07/2022.
The request seeks access to the following records:
1) the resolution adopted for Re-Warding Commissioner compensation,
2) copies of all `scenarios` (maps) submitted to the Re-Warding Commission
for consideration, including but not limited to those submitted by
Remington Vernick Engineers, Re-Warding Commissioners, and members of the
public,
3) copies of all correspondence, including email messages and attachments,
sent from the Municipal Clerk to Thomas Lynch, or from Thomas Lynch to the
Municipal Clerk, between December 16, 2020 and January 26, 2022, regarding
the following topics: wards, ward boundaries, maps, scenarios,
Re-Warding, and/or the Re-Warding Commission,
4) copies of the final ward boundary map adopted by the Re-Warding
Commission.
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 Township of Monroe 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.
This is an automated email, please do not reply. If you have questions,
comments or need to clarify your OPRA request, please call (732) 656-4574
or email [1][email address] or [2][Monroe Township (Middlesex) request email] and quote
the OPRA reference number above.
Sincerely,
Township of Monroe
Office of Township Clerk
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[Monroe Township (Middlesex) request email]
Dear [email address],
Thank you for confirming receipt of my OPRA request. Please be advised the correct dates for item #3 are between December 16, 2021 and January 26, 2022.
Yours sincerely,
Charlie Kratovil
Township of Monroe
Open Records Request
Reference # OPRA-2022-00091
Dear Charlie Kratovil,
The Township of Monroe has fulfilled your Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request dated 01/27/2022.
The request sought access to the following records:
1) the resolution adopted for Re-Warding Commissioner compensation,
2) copies of all `scenarios` (maps) submitted to the Re-Warding Commission
for consideration, including but not limited to those submitted by
Remington Vernick Engineers, Re-Warding Commissioners, and members of the
public,
3) copies of all correspondence, including email messages and attachments,
sent from the Municipal Clerk to Thomas Lynch, or from Thomas Lynch to the
Municipal Clerk, between December 16, 2020 and January 26, 2022, regarding
the following topics: wards, ward boundaries, maps, scenarios,
Re-Warding, and/or the Re-Warding Commission,
4) copies of the final ward boundary map adopted by the Re-Warding
Commission.
The records are being transmitted to you via Email. Pursuant to N.J.S.A.
47:1A-5.b. the cost associated with this request is $0.00.
You have a right to challenge the decision by Township of Monroe 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.
This is an automated email, please do not reply. If you have questions,
comments or need to clarify your OPRA request, please call (732) 656-4574
or email [1][email address] or [2][Monroe Township (Middlesex) request email] and quote
the OPRA reference number above.
Sincerely,
Township of Monroe
Office of Township Clerk
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[Monroe Township (Middlesex) request email]
Township of Monroe
Open Records Request
Reference # OPRA-2022-00091
Dear Charlie Kratovil,
The Township of Monroe has fulfilled your Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request dated 01/27/2022.
The request sought access to the following records:
1) the resolution adopted for Re-Warding Commissioner compensation,
2) copies of all `scenarios` (maps) submitted to the Re-Warding Commission
for consideration, including but not limited to those submitted by
Remington Vernick Engineers, Re-Warding Commissioners, and members of the
public,
3) copies of all correspondence, including email messages and attachments,
sent from the Municipal Clerk to Thomas Lynch, or from Thomas Lynch to the
Municipal Clerk, between December 16, 2020 and January 26, 2022, regarding
the following topics: wards, ward boundaries, maps, scenarios,
Re-Warding, and/or the Re-Warding Commission,
4) copies of the final ward boundary map adopted by the Re-Warding
Commission.
The records are being transmitted to you via Email. Pursuant to N.J.S.A.
47:1A-5.b. the cost associated with this request is $0.00.
You have a right to challenge the decision by Township of Monroe 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.
This is an automated email, please do not reply. If you have questions,
comments or need to clarify your OPRA request, please call (732) 656-4574
or email [1][email address] or [2][Monroe Township (Middlesex) request email] and quote
the OPRA reference number above.
Sincerely,
Township of Monroe
Office of Township Clerk
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[Monroe Township (Middlesex) request email]
Dear Monroe Township,
You are delinquent in your response to my request for records filed on January 26.
On February 7, you provided a letter stating that "We will need a one-week (February 14, 2022) extension to gather any responsive documents for this request." It is now February 15 and you have not provided any responsive records. Be advised that other Middlesex County municipalities have provided the requested records in response to an identical request. Why is Monroe unable to provide records in a timely fashion?
Please immediately provide the requested records. Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Charlie Kratovil
Township of Monroe
Open Records Request
Reference # OPRA-2022-00091
Dear Charlie Kratovil,
The Township of Monroe has fulfilled your Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request dated 01/27/2022.
The request sought access to the following records:
1) the resolution adopted for Re-Warding Commissioner compensation,
2) copies of all `scenarios` (maps) submitted to the Re-Warding Commission
for consideration, including but not limited to those submitted by
Remington Vernick Engineers, Re-Warding Commissioners, and members of the
public,
3) copies of all correspondence, including email messages and attachments,
sent from the Municipal Clerk to Thomas Lynch, or from Thomas Lynch to the
Municipal Clerk, between December 16, 2020 and January 26, 2022, regarding
the following topics: wards, ward boundaries, maps, scenarios,
Re-Warding, and/or the Re-Warding Commission,
4) copies of the final ward boundary map adopted by the Re-Warding
Commission.
The records are being transmitted to you via Email. Pursuant to N.J.S.A.
47:1A-5.b. the cost associated with this request is $0.00.
You have a right to challenge the decision by Township of Monroe 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.
This is an automated email, please do not reply. If you have questions,
comments or need to clarify your OPRA request, please call (732) 656-4574
or email [1][email address] or [2][Monroe Township (Middlesex) request email] and quote
the OPRA reference number above.
Sincerely,
Township of Monroe
Office of Township Clerk
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[Monroe Township (Middlesex) request email]
Dear Monroe Township,
Thank you for your response sent on February 15. However, I do not believe my request has been fulfilled.
Regarding your statement that "Scenario’s #1 and 2 are exempt from disclosure [as] inter-agency or intraagency advisory, consultative or deliberative material," I am asking you to reconsider this denial of access. I don't believe the Re-Warding Commission retained counsel, and unfortunately the folks at Remington & Vernick Engineers are not attorneys, nor are they well versed in the OPRA. Be advised that several other Re-Warding Commissions in Middlesex County have released *all* of the scenario maps and charts submitted for their consideration. Even if you find these records are exempt under OPRA, they should be released to me under the common law right of access. I am a journalist who has been covering Middlesex County for over a decade, and I am also engaged in government and politics here. As a reporter and resident of the county, I attempted to attend the January 11, 2022 public meeting of the Re-Warding Commission, but missed nearly half of it due to an erroneous notice that was posted on the website for the Middlesex County Board of Elections. I raised my concern about this to the Re-Warding Commission's Secretary Thomas Lynch but he never responded to these concerns. Further, I have reason to believe that the maps and charts you refer to as "scenario 1" and "scenario 2" were shared with at least one individual who did not serve on the Re-Warding Commission, and I have proof that a portion of one of these maps was displayed during the January 11, 2022 public meeting of the Commission, though it was only visible to those individuals who were participating in the meeting using Microsoft Teams software. It's fundamentally unfair to release these maps and charts to some individuals but not others. Finally, I also must take issue with your redaction of the record labeled "MONROE TOWNSHIP - POSSIBLE FUTURE POLLING LOCATIONS," for which there is no logical or legal reason to deny access. As such, please reconsider the denial and release to me all of the maps and charts submitted for the commission's consideration, as well as the list of possible future polling locations, under OPRA and/or common law. Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Charlie Kratovil
Good Afternoon,
Please see the attached files for Scenario's 1 and 2 with the unredacted Polling Locations of current and proposed. I have also provided the most recently received email from the Board of Elections regarding the further review and determination to release the draft Scenario's.
Alicia Gonzalez
Records Management Coordinator
Monroe Township Clerk’s Office
Dear Ms. Gonzalez,
Thank you kindly for your response, and for including that email from Mr. Lynch. I am glad that he changed his position on this, and I appreciate you complying with my request. Can you please also provide the "scenario 3" map as it was presented to the Commissioners and the "charts" for each of the three scenarios? After that is done, I will consider this request fulfilled. Thanks again.
Yours sincerely,
Charlie Kratovil
Good Morning,
The charts are located in the top left hand corner of each Scenario's maps.
Alicia Gonzalez
Records Management Coordinator
Monroe Township Clerk’s Office