Lawrence School Board over-redacted its closed meeting minutes

Records requestors are often given redacted (i.e. black-lined) versions of the minutes from their town council’s or school board’s closed or executive meetings. Sometimes, the redactions are explained only by a vague description such as “on-going litigation” while other times no reasons at all are given. Because requestors aren’t quite sure what has been redacted, Read More …

Can meeting minutes be 100% redacted? Appellate Court to weigh in.

UPDATE (3/4/2017): The Appellate Division ruling will be available online after 10 a.m. on Monday, March 6, 2017. See the “unpublished opinions” in the right-hand column on the Judiciary’s web site HERE. — When providing copies of closed (or executive) session minutes under OPRA, public agencies may redact (black out text) as appropriate. For example, Read More …

Spotswood School Board meeting minutes don’t make the grade, lawsuit claims

PRESS RELEASE For immediate release September 1, 2016   UPDATE (9/27/16):    The time of the Oct. 13th hearing has been changed to 10:00 AM. This hearing date, hour and location is subject to change. If you plan to attend, please call the court offices at 732-519-3413 the day prior to confirm that the hearing Read More …

Summit BOE’s OPRA extension and form requirement challenged

On July 9, 2016, attorney Richard Gutman of Montclair filed a GRC complaint on behalf of Libertarians for Transparent Government challenging the Summit Board of Education’s 1) requirement that its OPRA request form be used, and 2) decision to unilaterally grant itself an extension that went well beyond the seven business-day period. As to the Read More …

Lawsuit against Long Beach Island BOE claims Records and Meetings Act violations

PRESS RELEASE For immediate release On March 2, 2016, the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government (NJFOG) filed suit in Ocean County Superior Court claiming that the Long Beach Island Board of Education committed multiple violations of the state’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). The case, New Jersey Foundation Read More …