Records Supporting Authorization
Dear Franklin Township (Gloucester),
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:
All records indicating the specific duties assigned to 2019 Special Projects Solicitor Leah Vassallo. All records/communications authorizing the specific tasks/jobs/litigation assigned to 2019 Special Projects Solicitor Leah Vassallo. All records justifying that such tasks required expense of attorney involvement.
Yours faithfully,
FT Accountability
Dear Franklin Township (Gloucester),
Correcting error, that would be 2020 Special Projects Solicitor Leah Vassallo, not 2019 as erred in original request. Per contract: "Special Projects Solicitor shall perform legal services for the Township
commencing January 1, 2020, until such time as directed to cease by a majority of
Mayor and Township Committee. The duties of Special Projects Solicitor will be
those delegated to Special Projects Solicitor in writing by a majority of Mayor and
Township Committee. Special Projects Solicitor shall not perform any services
until such delegation has taken place in writing from Township Attorney."
Yours faithfully,
FT Accountability
Dear Franklin Township (Gloucester),
This is reminder that today is deadline for request. I've requested no record that would need review/redaction by Solicitor. I have only requested the letter from Township Administrator authorizing/assigning specific work to 2020 Project Solicitor per contract.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. F. T. Resident
Dear Mrs. F. T. Resident
The Township of Franklin received your Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request on June 4, 2021. The official Records Custodian, Barbara Freijomil received your OPRA request on June 4, 2021. As such, the seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is June 15, 2021. This response to your request is being provided to you on the 7th business day after the custodian’s receipt of said request.
Your OPRA request sought access to the following:
Correcting error, that would be 2020 Special Projects Solicitor Leah Vassallo, not 2019 as erred in original request. Per contract: "Special Projects Solicitor shall perform legal services for the Township commencing January 1, 2020, until such time as directed to cease by a majority of Mayor and Township Committee. The duties of Special Projects Solicitor will be those delegated to Special Projects Solicitor in writing by a majority of Mayor and Township Committee. Special Projects Solicitor shall not perform any services until such delegation has taken place in writing from Township Attorney."
In an effort to answer your request, attached is the substitution of attorney from Stuart Platt to Leah Vassallo for COAH matters - Docket #GLO-L-901-15
However, This request seeks information or asks questions and does not identify specific government records. As such, portions of your request are invalid and these portions are 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.
Sincerely,
Barbara Freijomil
Dear Barb Freijomil,
I was very specific and quoted the Special Projects Solicitor contract which clearly states: "Special Projects Solicitor shall perform legal services for the Township commencing January 1, 2020, until such time as directed to cease by a majority of Mayor and Township Committee. The duties of Special Projects Solicitor will be those delegated to Special Projects Solicitor in writing by a majority of Mayor and Township Committee. Special Projects Solicitor shall not perform any services until such delegation has taken place in writing from Township Attorney." Provide the LETTER WRITTEN BY TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY required per contract which delegated duties of services performed/billed for by Leah Vassallo. You have provided a document written by the Special Projects Solicitor. This was not requested. Provide LETTER WRITTEN BY TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY which was REQUIRED for Leah Vassallo to perform any professional services as Special Projects Solicitor.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. F. T. Resident
Hi, I am not making any such assertion as to the statements in your request. My role is to provide records. I am providing the Resolution appointing Leah Vassallo as Special Projects Solicitor for 2020. There are no other documents pursuant to your request. Barb
Barbara Freijomil
Municipal Clerk
Township of Franklin
1571 Delsea Drive
Franklinville, NJ 08322
856-694-1234 ext. 7
Fax: 856-694-1279
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