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Old Tappan backs state reforms to the Open Public Records Act
Summary
The borough council adopted a resolution urging the legislature to modernize OPRA and to pass Senate Bill 2930 and Assembly Bill 4045 to address burdens on municipal staff, prevailing attorney fees, and commercial use of public records.
Council considered and adopted a resolution supporting reforms to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), backing Senate Bill 2930 and Assembly Bill 4045. The resolution notes OPRA's public‑access goals and says technological changes have generated unintended burdens on local government, including commercial data‑mining and repeated requests that consume municipal staff time.
"We reaffirm our support and commitment to open and transparent government," the council member reading the resolution said, adding that the measure urges reforms to protect personal privacy and give municipalities discretion on prevailing attorney fees. The resolution directs the borough to forward copies to state legislative leadership and the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
Council members said they support the resolution as a way to balance transparency with protection of residents' personal information and to reduce the administrative burdens associated with high‑volume or commercial requesters.
