Request for correspondence; Re: RFP Media;Public Media;Christopher Pollak

Rich Walz made this OPRA request to Jackson Township

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The request was successful.

Dear Jackson 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:

I am requesting all records, including emails and texts sent to and from Councilman Christopher Pollak during the period of 11/17/2025 to present to including:

Emails sent to and from Mr. Pollak with the words "Stilton" "Media" "PR" "public information" "RPF" "Contract" "Bid" "Shore News".

All texts sent to and from Mr. Pollak regarding official township business from or to any other elected officials in Jackson Township , or employees of Jackson Township with the same above keywords, to include Texts, Facebook Messenger and What's App.

All emails from Mr. Pollak or Mr. Shemtov during that same period identifying Mr. Shem Tov as Mr. Pollak's Chief of Staff.

All texts sent between Councilman Pollak and Eli Shem Tov, who Mr. Pollak has clearly idenfitied as his official Jackson Councilman's "Chief of Staff", an official, though unpaid and recognized governmental position under New Jersey State law, to include the same texts, what's app, Facebook Messenger and What's App messaging platforms and emails sent from the township emails and personal emails by the councilman and his chief of staff.

NJ law: N.J. Admin. Code § 5:35-2.1 cites that a chief of staff is an executive level position in municipal government if appointed by an elected official whether or not that person is paid or unpaid, or an official employee or not.

It has been publicly declared that Mr. Shem Tov is Mr. Pollak's Chief of Staff and this request would be valid under New Jersey's open public records act.

Both Mr. Shem Tov and Mr. Pollak have publicly declared that Mr. Shem Tov is officially Mr. Pollak's "Chief of Staff" and has requested to do business as such with various other township officials and employees, making him an official chief of staff, recognized by state law.

My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.

Yours faithfully,

Rich Walz

The Township of Jackson is in receipt of your OPRA request.
Thank you,
Hayley Santoro
Clerk I
Office of the Municipal Clerk
Jackson Township
95 W. Veterans Highway
Jackson, NJ 08527
Phone: 732-928-1200 Ext. 1204
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic message contains information from
the Jackson Township Clerks office. This e-mail and any files attached may
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From: Rich Walz <[OPRA #84835 email]>
Sent: Friday, January 2, 2026 11:40 AM
To: OPRA <[Jackson Township request email]>
Subject: OPRA request - Request for correspondence; Re: RFP Media;Public
Media;Christopher Pollak

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responding to this email.

Dear Jackson 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:

I am requesting all records, including emails and texts sent to and from
Councilman Christopher Pollak during the period of 11/17/2025 to present
to including:

Emails sent to and from Mr. Pollak with the words "Stilton" "Media" "PR"
"public information" "RPF" "Contract" "Bid" "Shore News".

All texts sent to and from Mr. Pollak regarding official township business
from or to any other elected officials in Jackson Township , or employees
of Jackson Township with the same above keywords, to include Texts,
Facebook Messenger and What's App.

All emails from Mr. Pollak or Mr. Shemtov during that same period
identifying Mr. Shem Tov as Mr. Pollak's Chief of Staff.

All texts sent between Councilman Pollak and Eli Shem Tov, who Mr. Pollak
has clearly idenfitied as his official Jackson Councilman's "Chief of
Staff", an official, though unpaid and recognized governmental position
under New Jersey State law, to include the same texts, what's app,
Facebook Messenger and What's App messaging platforms and emails sent from
the township emails and personal emails by the councilman and his chief of
staff.

NJ law: N.J. Admin. Code § 5:35-2.1 cites that a chief of staff is an
executive level position in municipal government if appointed by an
elected official whether or not that person is paid or unpaid, or an
official employee or not.

It has been publicly declared that Mr. Shem Tov is Mr. Pollak's Chief of
Staff and this request would be valid under New Jersey's open public
records act.

Both Mr. Shem Tov and Mr. Pollak have publicly declared that Mr. Shem Tov
is officially Mr. Pollak's "Chief of Staff" and has requested to do
business as such with various other township officials and employees,
making him an official chief of staff, recognized by state law.

My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail
as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you
are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person
and provide their email address to me for future reference.

Yours faithfully,

Rich Walz

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Dear Mr. Walz,
Please clarify a timeframe for your request.
Thank you,
Jackson Township Clerk's Office