Request for Code Violation
Dear Clark Township,
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:
1. A list of all the residential properties with code violations that include fire damage, overgrown grass, overgrown weeds, junk, boarded houses/windows, vacant properties.
2. All condemned properties
3. All properties with delinquent water and sewer which date back up to 1 year, including amounts owed
4. All properties currently listed with water shut-off notice
5. All properties with notices of abatement
Please send all documents in CSV or Excel file
Yours faithfully,
Vanessa
Your request has been received and will be processed in accordance with the Open Public Records Act.
Edith L. Merkel, RMC
Township Clerk
Township of Clark
430 Westfield Ave.
Clark, NJ 07066
(732) 388-3669
WARNING: Email received by or sent to Township officials is subject to the Open Public Records Act [OPRA]. This means that absent some specific privilege, all such communications are considered a public record and are subject to publication and/or dissemination to the public upon request.
To: Vanessa <[OPRA #38821 email]>
From: Edith L. Merkel, Township Clerk, Township of Clark
Re: OPRA - Request for Code Violation
Date: January 11, 2023
The Township of Clark received your Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request on January 6, 2023. The official Records Custodian, Edith Merkel, received your OPRA request on January 6, 2023. As such, the seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is January 18, 2023. This response to your request is being provided to you on the third business day after the custodian’s receipt of said request.
Your OPRA request sought access to the following:
"1. A list of all the residential properties with code violations that include fire damage, overgrown grass, overgrown weeds, junk, boarded houses/windows, vacant properties.
2. All condemned properties
3. All properties with delinquent water and sewer which date back up to 1 year, including amounts owed 4. All properties currently listed with water shut-off notice 5. All properties with notices of abatement"
Tax Collector's response is attached (2 attachments).
Fire Department Response is below:
From: FRANK CERASA <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2023 10:38 AM
To: Clerk's Dept. <[Clark Township request email]>
Subject: Re: FW: OPRA request - Request for Code Violation
The Fire Department has no records that are code violations for any residential properties, Thanks
Frank J. Cerasa
Director /Fire Chief / Fire Official
252 Broadway
Clark New Jersey07066
Office: 732-381-1158
Cell: 732-904-7251
[email address]
Construction Department Response is below:
From: Elaina Lambert <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2023 2:12 PM
To: Clerk's Dept. <[Clark Township request email]>
Subject: Code Violation OPRA request
Good afternoon,
As of today, this office does not have a record of any properties with code violations or condemned properties.
Have a great day,
Elaina Lambert
Technical Assistant
Construction Department
Questions 4 water shut-off notices are not a record made or maintained by the Township of Clark. Question 5: Notices of Abatement, unknown. What department would issue such notices? If you provide further detail I can do a more thorough search.
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 Clark 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.
Dear Clerk's Dept.,
Question 5: Notices of Abatement, unknown. What department would issue such notices? If you provide further detail I can do a more thorough search.
--vacant homes or condemned homes
Yours sincerely,
Vanessa
To: Vanessa <[OPRA #38821 email]>
From: Edith Merkel, Township Clerk, Township of Clark
Re: Follow up OPRA - Request for Code Violation
Date: January 18, 2023
The Township of Clark received your Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request on January 18, 2023. The official Records Custodian, Edith Merkel, received your OPRA request on January 18, 2023. As such, the seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is January 27, 2023. This response to your follow up request is being provided to you on the same business day as the custodian’s receipt of said request.
Your follow up to the original OPRA request is as follows:
"Question 5: Notices of Abatement, unknown. What department would issue such notices? If you provide further detail I can do a more thorough search.
--vacant homes or condemned homes"
The 2022 Vacant Abandoned Property List is attached and is responsive to your request. As reported in the January 11, 2023 response there are no condemned properties.
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 Clark 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.
Dear Clerk's Dept.,
Thank you, I see that the Utility Delinquent report excludes cut offs. Is it possible to have that list with only addresses that are cut off? If not can they be included?
Thanks in advance!
Yours sincerely,
Vanessa
To: Vanessa <[OPRA #38821 email]>
From: Edith Merkel, Township Clerk, Township of Clark
Re: Follow up OPRA - Request for Code Violation
Date: January 19, 2023
I will forward your question to the Tax Collector for a response.
To: Vanessa <[OPRA #38821 email]>
From: Edith L. Merkel, Township Clerk, Township of Clark
Re: OPRA 2nd follow up
Date: January 19, 2023
The Township of Clark received your 2nd follow up to your Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request on January 19, 2023. The official Records Custodian, Edith Merkel, received your OPRA request on January 19, 2023. This response to your request is being provided to you on the same business day as the custodian’s receipt of said request.
Your 2nd follow up OPRA request (below) is as follows:
"Thank you, I see that the Utility Delinquent report excludes cut offs. Is it possible to have that list with only addresses that are cut off? If not can they be included?"
Tax Collector's response:
We do not have cut off for sewer utility.
Laura Caliguire
Tax Collector
Township of Clark
430 Westfield Avenue
Clark, NJ 07066
P- 732-428-8404
F- 732-388-0581
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 Clark 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.