Trap-Neuter-Return Program Documentation
Dear Old Bridge 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.
If your municipality does not support or have a program for Trap-Neuter-Return ("TNR") of feral cats, please state as much to close the request.
Records requested:
1. Copy of current municipal agreement with TNR vendor; if TNR is provided by municipal manpower, please indicate by whom.
2. Written protocol and procedures for implementation of the TNR program and how residents are to access TNR services
3. Copy of budget/ledger showing funds allocated and spent on the TNR program for years 2022 and 2023 (as applicable).
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Elizabeth Mattfield
OPRA-Req-23-0391
Date Received: 4/10/2023
Status: Received
Applicant: Elizabeth Mattfield
Information Requested: 1. Copy of current municipal agreement with
TNR vendor; if provided by municipal manpower, please indicate by
whome
2. Written protocol and procedures for implementation of the TNR
program and how residents are to acces TNR services
3. Copy of budget/ledger showing funds allocated and spent on the
TNR program for years 2022 and 2023 (as applicable)
An extension is needed until 4/25/2023
Assignments
Finance Status: Completed
Action:
Spatial Data Logic 2021
OPRA-Req-23-0391
Date Received: 4/10/2023
Status: Received
Applicant: Elizabeth Mattfield
Information Requested: 1. Copy of current municipal agreement with
TNR vendor; if provided by municipal manpower, please indicate by
whome
2. Written protocol and procedures for implementation of the TNR
program and how residents are to acces TNR services
3. Copy of budget/ledger showing funds allocated and spent on the
TNR program for years 2022 and 2023 (as applicable)
Assignments
Finance Status: Completed
Action: The township does not fund the TNR program.
Spatial Data Logic 2021
Dear [email address],
Thank you for the response; however, the response to the request for records indicated that the town does not fund the TNR program.
Does this mean that the town does not have a TNR program and therefore the requested documents do not exist?
Thank you again for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Mattfield
We do have a program, which is as stipulated in the Township code section https://ecode360.com/32598434.
Susan S. Nelson
Township Clerk’s Office
Deputy Registrar x2200
Old Bridge Township
One Old Bridge Plaza
Old Bridge, NJ 08857
732-721-5600 x2215
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Mattfield <[OPRA #41586 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 11:22 PM
To: OpraRequests <[Old Bridge Township request email]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request OPRA-Req-23-0391
Dear [email address],
Thank you for the response; however, the response to the request for records indicated that the town does not fund the TNR program.
Does this mean that the town does not have a TNR program and therefore the requested documents do not exist?
Thank you again for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Mattfield
-----Original Message-----
OPRA-Req-23-0391
Date Received: 4/10/2023
Status: Received
Applicant: Elizabeth Mattfield
Information Requested: 1. Copy of current municipal agreement with
TNR vendor; if provided by municipal manpower, please indicate by
whome
2. Written protocol and procedures for implementation of the TNR
program and how residents are to acces TNR services
3. Copy of budget/ledger showing funds allocated and spent on the
TNR program for years 2022 and 2023 (as applicable)
Assignments
Finance Status: Completed
Action: The township does not fund the TNR program.
Spatial Data Logic 2021
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Please use this UNIQUE email address for all replies to this request and no other:
[OPRA #41586 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...
View this OPRA request & responses online:
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...
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Thank you for confirming that Old Bridge still has a TNR program. I have access to the codes already.
The documents I am seeking are those that outline the specifics of the implemented program, not the code itself.
This would include the code's referenced agreements with any vendors or administrators of the program, meeting records and rosters of the TNR Committee, and protocol on how a colony caretaker registers their colony. It would include any forms that caretakers are required to submit to the TNR Committee, as well as the agreements referenced in D.5. of ordinance 39-25.1 that the TNR Committee is supposed to procure with its hired animal control provider.
There do not appear to be any forms or records of TNR Committee meetings available on Old Bridge's website. I cannot even find a contact for the TNR Committee.
The purpose of this request is to obtain accurate information and give direction to residents who contact our rescue about TNR services available in their towns. There is a lot of misinformation on social media about what towns have available, and we try to set the records straight by using public records to provide truthful and accurate help to our callers. Anything you can provide is a help.
Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Mattfield
I keep referring to the code because the questions you are asking are spelled out IN the code.
Susan S. Nelson
Township Clerk’s Office
Deputy Registrar x2200
Old Bridge Township
One Old Bridge Plaza
Old Bridge, NJ 08857
732-721-5600 x2215
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Mattfield <[OPRA #41586 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 10:57 PM
To: Susan Nelson <[email address]>
Subject: RE: OPRA Request OPRA-Req-23-0391
Thank you for confirming that Old Bridge still has a TNR program. I have access to the codes already.
The documents I am seeking are those that outline the specifics of the implemented program, not the code itself.
This would include the code's referenced agreements with any vendors or administrators of the program, meeting records and rosters of the TNR Committee, and protocol on how a colony caretaker registers their colony. It would include any forms that caretakers are required to submit to the TNR Committee, as well as the agreements referenced in D.5. of ordinance 39-25.1 that the TNR Committee is supposed to procure with its hired animal control provider.
There do not appear to be any forms or records of TNR Committee meetings available on Old Bridge's website. I cannot even find a contact for the TNR Committee.
The purpose of this request is to obtain accurate information and give direction to residents who contact our rescue about TNR services available in their towns. There is a lot of misinformation on social media about what towns have available, and we try to set the records straight by using public records to provide truthful and accurate help to our callers. Anything you can provide is a help.
Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Mattfield
-----Original Message-----
We do have a program, which is as stipulated in the Township code section https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...
Susan S. Nelson
Township Clerk’s Office
Deputy Registrar x2200
Old Bridge Township
One Old Bridge Plaza
Old Bridge, NJ 08857
732-721-5600 x2215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this UNIQUE email address for all replies to this request and no other:
[OPRA #41586 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...
View this OPRA request & responses online:
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an OPRA custodian, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's website.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Susan Nelson,
In accordance with OPRA, my request is for documentation, not question responses. The code does not provide these documents.
1. Copies of agreements with any vendors or administrators of the TNR program,
2. Meeting records and rosters of the TNR Committee (code required establishment of the TNR Committee within 60 days of the ordinance in 2019, appointed by the chief of police)
3. Written procedure on how a colony caretaker registers their colony as established by the TNR Committee - the code only states that it must be done, and does not provide a procedure of how a colony is registered.
4. Any forms that caretakers are required to submit to the TNR Committee for purposes of registering their colonies or reporting the colony statistics required by the code.
5. The written agreements referenced in D.5. of ordinance 39-25.1 that the TNR Committee is supposed to procure with its hired animal control provider.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Mattfield
The documents don't exist.
Susan S. Nelson
Township Clerk’s Office
Deputy Registrar x2200
Old Bridge Township
One Old Bridge Plaza
Old Bridge, NJ 08857
732-721-5600 x2215
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Mattfield <[OPRA #41586 email]>
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2023 2:07 PM
To: Susan Nelson <[email address]>
Subject: RE: OPRA Request OPRA-Req-23-0391
Dear Susan Nelson,
In accordance with OPRA, my request is for documentation, not question responses. The code does not provide these documents.
1. Copies of agreements with any vendors or administrators of the TNR program,
2. Meeting records and rosters of the TNR Committee (code required establishment of the TNR Committee within 60 days of the ordinance in 2019, appointed by the chief of police)
3. Written procedure on how a colony caretaker registers their colony as established by the TNR Committee - the code only states that it must be done, and does not provide a procedure of how a colony is registered.
4. Any forms that caretakers are required to submit to the TNR Committee for purposes of registering their colonies or reporting the colony statistics required by the code.
5. The written agreements referenced in D.5. of ordinance 39-25.1 that the TNR Committee is supposed to procure with its hired animal control provider.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Mattfield
-----Original Message-----
I keep referring to the code because the questions you are asking are spelled out IN the code.
Susan S. Nelson
Township Clerk’s Office
Deputy Registrar x2200
Old Bridge Township
One Old Bridge Plaza
Old Bridge, NJ 08857
732-721-5600 x2215
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this UNIQUE email address for all replies to this request and no other:
[OPRA #41586 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...
View this OPRA request & responses online:
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an OPRA custodian, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's website.
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Dear Susan,
Thank you for your time and response to my request. I will close the OPRA request.
Elizabeth