The following article appeared in the Montclair Times. It reports on a letter that I had sent to the Montclair Township Mayor and Council regarding an Open Public Meetings Act violation. My letter is on-line here. John PaffSomerset, New Jersey Council chided over closed-door meeting (by Terrence T. McDonald – August 27, 2009) After receiving […]
Posted inNJ Open Government Notes
Important OPMA decision handed down today
On August 20, 2009, the Appellate Division handed down an important, published decision clarifying the Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). The decision, from Burnett v. Gloucester County, Docket No. A-6131-07T2, is on-line here. The thirty-six page decision covers a variety of topics, some of which will be discussed here. First, the […]
Posted inNJ Civil Settlements
State pays $21,000 to settle claim against “sex talk” Camden Probation Officer
On June 4, 2009, the New Jersey Attorney General’s office paid a $21,000 settlement to a Franklinville woman who claimed that Camden County child support enforcement officer Martin Kay required her to engage her in graphic sexual dialogue in exchange for working on her case file. In her civil lawsuit(Camden County Superior Court, Docket No. […]
Posted inNJ Civil Settlements
Irvington pays out $130,000 on two police-dog mauling cases
Five men have accepted a total of $130,000 in settlement of their claims against the Irvington Township (Essex County) Police. Each of the men alleged that Irvington police officers intentionally caused police dogs named Bullet and Apollo to maul them while they were handcuffed. The cases are Lopez et al v. City of Irvington, Case […]
Posted inNJ Open Government Notes
Issue: “The Mayor and Council won’t answer my questions.”
From time to time I receive questions that I think may be of general interest. Here’s one such question my answer to it. Question: When I ask a question during a meeting’s public comment session, either on a general issue or on a specific ordinance that is about to be passed, the mayor and council […]