Borough government records
For Clerk, Administration, Finance, Tax, Construction, Planning, Zoning, Public Works, Health, Parks and other Borough records, submit the Borough OPRA form to the Borough Records Custodian.
Borough OPRA form, PDFSubmit to the correct records office
An OPRA request is not considered submitted until it is received by the appropriate records custodian. The Borough Clerk handles most Borough government records. Police Department records and Municipal Court records follow the separate processes identified below.
OPRA is used to request identifiable existing records. If you need an answer, service, permit or explanation rather than a record, contact the responsible Borough department.
Start here
Choose the correct records office
Use the process that matches the agency maintaining the record. Sending the request directly to the correct custodian starts the applicable response period.
Police Department records
Use the Police Department's records process for police reports, body-worn camera records, dispatch material and other records maintained by the Police Department.
Police records formsMunicipal Court records
Municipal Court records are Judiciary records governed by New Jersey Court Rule 1:38, not municipal OPRA. Contact the Court Administrator or follow the Judiciary's court-record procedure.
Court-record informationAnother public agency
School district, Bergen County, State and other agency records must be requested from the custodian of the public agency that maintains them. The Government Records Council is not a central records repository.
GRC request FAQsSubmit a Borough OPRA request
The official Borough form is recommended because it contains the information and certifications required by law. A completed letter or email containing every item required by the adopted form also qualifies. Verbal requests are not OPRA requests.
Submit the completed request directly to Cindy Kirkpatrick, RMC, Borough Clerk and Borough Records Custodian. A request is considered submitted when the appropriate Records Custodian receives it.
Mail or hand delivery
Borough Clerk, Borough of Saddle River
100 East Allendale Road
Saddle River, NJ 07458
Fax
201‑327‑0168
Office hours and assistance
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except designated holidays
201‑327‑2609, extension 226
Faster access
Find commonly requested records online
Many frequently requested records can be viewed immediately without filing an OPRA request. A custodian may also direct a requestor to a complete record already available online and provide directions for locating it.
Agendas, packets, minutes and recordings
Search current Mayor and Council, board and commission meeting records.
Public and legal notices
View current notices and the Borough's notice archive.
Borough Code and new laws
Search the codified ordinances and recently adopted legislation.
Municipal budgets
View adopted budgets and user-friendly budget documents.
Annual audits
Access current and earlier municipal audit reports.
Financial statements
View posted annual financial statements.
Debt statements
Access posted annual debt statements.
Labor agreements
View posted collective negotiations agreements.
Bids and requests for proposals
Find current posted procurement opportunities and documents.
Permit and property information
Use SDL Portal for available informational permit status, history and property information.
Maps and tax map resources
Find posted Borough maps and related property resources.
Request guide
Make a clear and complete request
OPRA provides access to identifiable government records. It does not require an agency to answer questions, perform research, analyze records or create a new record that does not already exist.
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Identify the records
Describe the record type, subject, date or reasonable date range, responsible department, property address, permit number, meeting date or other details that identify existing records.
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Use the communication-request requirements
For email, text messages, correspondence or social-media records, identify the specific job title or account to be searched, a specific subject matter and a reasonable time period.
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Complete the required certifications
The current form requires certifications concerning any conviction for an indictable offense, whether the records will be used for a commercial purpose, and whether the records are sought in connection with a legal proceeding. If connected to a legal proceeding, identify that proceeding as the form directs.
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Submit the request in writing
Send the completed form by email, mail, fax or hand delivery to the appropriate custodian. A completed letter or email containing every item required by the adopted form also qualifies.
Anonymous requests
A request may generally be submitted anonymously and is not incomplete for that reason. If the requestor does not accurately identify themselves or provide an accurate address, email address or telephone number, the custodian is not required to respond until the requestor contacts the custodian seeking the response.
An anonymous requestor may not file a denial-of-access proceeding with the Government Records Council or Superior Court. Different restrictions apply to anonymous requests for protected information concerning a crime victim.
Requests connected to litigation
A party to a legal proceeding may not use OPRA to request a record that is the subject of a court order, including a pending discovery request.
The form requires the requestor to identify the proceeding. Follow applicable court rules and any discovery order.
Protect sensitive information
Do not include Social Security numbers, financial account information, medical information, passwords or other unnecessary sensitive personal information in a request or ordinary email.
After filing
Response periods and written notices
The custodian responds in writing by granting access, denying access, seeking clarification or giving written notice of an extension. A request is processed as soon as possible, subject to the response periods and exceptions established by law.
Most requests
Up to 7 business days
The general response period begins when the appropriate custodian receives the request. An incomplete request may be denied within the applicable response period.
Commercial or Daniel's Law review
Up to 14 business days
The custodian gives notice of the additional response time within seven business days.
Immediate-access records
Without delay
Ordinarily applies to budgets, bills, vouchers, contracts, and public employee salary and overtime information. Immediate access is not required for records more than 24 months old.
Records in storage or archives
Notice, then up to 21 business days
The custodian advises when the records can be made available within the statutory period.
Reasonable extensions
Unforeseen circumstances or other circumstances that reasonably require additional time can support a written extension. The notice should provide the anticipated date for the next response.
Special response periods apply to certain law-enforcement information and election records. During a declared state of emergency, public health emergency, or state or local disaster emergency, the ordinary deadlines do not apply, but the custodian must make a reasonable effort to respond within the otherwise applicable period or as soon as possible thereafter.
Costs and delivery
Fees, formats and inspection
Electronic records
No copy charge
Electronic delivery is ordinarily free. Actual supply, conversion or special-service costs may apply when authorized by law.
Paper copies
$0.05 or $0.07 per page
Letter size or smaller is $0.05 per page. Legal size or larger is $0.07 per page, unless another law sets a specific fee.
Deposits
When costs exceed $5
The custodian may require a deposit when anticipated reproduction costs exceed $5.
Inspection
No copy charge
Inspection is scheduled with the custodian during the applicable public-access hours. Copy or other authorized costs apply only when incurred.
Special service charges and other actual costs
Where authorized by OPRA, a request involving an extraordinary expenditure of time and effort or extensive use of information technology may result in a reasonable special service charge based on actual direct cost.
Before the work is performed, the custodian provides an explanation and itemized estimate so the requestor can accept or decline the charge. Actual media, vendor, delivery and postage costs may also apply.
Records already available online
No fee is charged when a request is completed by directing the requestor to a government record available on a public-agency website.
Access and privacy
What may be provided, redacted or withheld
Government records are generally accessible unless an exemption or other legal protection applies. OPRA also requires public agencies to protect personal information when disclosure would violate a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Partial access
When only part of a record is protected, the custodian must redact the protected portion and promptly provide access to the remainder.
Written legal basis
A written denial or redaction must identify the specific legal basis that applies to the withheld record or information.
No new record required
OPRA does not require the custodian to create a record, answer questions or compile research from multiple records.
Reasonable solution
If a request would substantially disrupt agency operations, the custodian must inform the requestor of the potential disruption and attempt to reach a reasonable solution. Access may be denied if no reasonable solution is reached.
The Government Records Council's current Citizen's Guide explains the request process and common exemptions in greater detail.