Re: Open Public Records Act Request (OPRA) – Ron Hayes Ethics Appeal

Dear Records Custodian,

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., I am requesting access to the following government records:

(1) All legal invoices, billing statements, or itemized charges issued to or paid by Mansfield Township or its insurer in connection with legal representation for or related to Township Committeeman Ron Hayes’s ethics complaint and appeal before the New Jersey Local Finance Board, from September 1, 2023 to the present.

(2) All resolutions, correspondence, insurance claim forms, or authorizations issued by the Township of Mansfield or its officials that relate to the provision of a defense, legal representation, or indemnification for Committeeman Ron Hayes regarding this ethics matter.

If responsive records are withheld, please provide a detailed privilege log explaining the basis for each redaction or denial, as required by law.

Certification of Intended Use (Per N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., as amended in 2024)

I, William N. Sosis, certify under penalty of law that:

- I am not seeking the requested records for any unlawful purpose;
- I will not use the requested records, or any portion thereof, for the purpose of harassment, abuse, or solicitation of any individual identified therein;
- I am not acting on behalf of, or in concert with, any foreign government or entity;
- I am not requesting records containing personal identifying information to resell or trade that information for commercial purposes.

Please send the requested records in electronic format via email if possible. If any part of this request is denied or redacted, please provide the legal basis for such denial as required under OPRA.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Bill Sosis

Subject: OPRA Request Follow-Up: Missing Records Related to Ron Hayes Legal Fees

Dear Records Custodian,

Thank you for your response and for providing records in connection with my OPRA request regarding Committeeman Ron Hayes’s ethics matter (Ron Hayes v. Local Finance Board). After reviewing the documents received, it appears that the records may be incomplete. The legal invoices and payment records supplied indicate that Mansfield Township (or its insurer) has paid or been billed a total of $6,500 in legal fees related to Mr. Hayes’s defense. However, Resolution 076-2025—which is vague and lacking in detail—only authorizes an expenditure of $2,400 for legal representation. This leaves a discrepancy of $4,100 in unauthorized or unexplained legal expenditures that are not supported by any resolution or authorizing documentation in the records you provided.

To resolve this inconsistency, I am requesting the following public records:

- Any additional resolutions, authorizations, or approvals—formal or informal—by the Township or its insurer relating to the provision of legal fees for Mr. Hayes in connection with this matter;

- Any insurance claim correspondence, payment confirmations, or indemnification agreements associated with the legal representation;

- Any additional invoices, billing breakdowns, or legal memoranda that reflect how and why the remaining $4,100 was approved or paid.

If records have been withheld or redacted, please provide a detailed privilege log in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g).

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

Sincerely,
William N. Sosis