NJ Towns Post Little Public Information Online

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Michael Skudera

NJ Towns Post Little Public Information Online

Tinton Falls Councilman Michael Skudera urges the NJ Assembly and Senate to expand the Public Records Act

Assemblyman Richard Merkt plans to introduce a bill to encourage municipalities to post more public information online.

(Tinton Falls, NJ) – At Tuesday's council meeting (April 10, 2007 ), Councilman Michael Skudera presented a 63 page report on ways to improve the town's website. This proposal included a proposed ordinance that outlines what information must be posted online including minutes, agendas, public notices, budget information, and ordinances approved for introduction.

While conducting research for this ordinance, Skudera studied 175 municipal websites in New Jersey and found that the majority of towns post very little public information on their websites.

"It is rare to have a municipal website that posts even the basic public information online in a timely manner such as budgets, public notices, and minutes of meetings", Skudera said. "By expanding and improving a town's website, important public information can be made readily available to residents and this will help lower administrative costs, improve the overall efficiency of town employees, reduce consumption of paper, and improve open government."

Councilman Skudera has created a standardized list of basic public information that all municipalities in New Jersey should post on their websites. Skudera is asking the State Assembly and Senate to encourage all municipalities in New Jersey to post this basic information on their websites. Skudera adds that if a State grant were offered to municipalities for doing this, it would encourage towns to provide more information on their sites.

Assemblyman Richard Merkt is planning to introduce a bill in the Assembly to encourage towns to adopt an ordinance similar what Skudera is proposing in Tinton Falls because Merkt “believes it will help make municipal websites be more informative and useful to the public.”

Below is a list of what is proposed for Tinton Falls and encouraged to be done in municipalities throughout New Jersey.

Proposal - Expanding the New Jersey Open Public Records Act

Homepage of Site
The homepage of the [municipality name] website shall include at least the following information which shall be clearly visible directly or accessed through a single link on the home page: preliminary and final budgets, yearly audits, requests for open records, master plan, telephone and e-mail directory of employees and officials, minutes and agendas, forms and documents, voter registration forms, citizens concerns and inquiries form, common permits/licenses, competitive bidding opportunities, municipal codebook, ordinances for introduction, and public notices.

Posting of Budget
The preliminary budget and final budget shall be posted on the [municipality name] website within 48 hours of approval by the governing body and shall remain on the [municipality name] website for a period of no less than five (5) years.

Posting of Public Notices
All notices required to be posted publicly and/or published by law shall be posted on the [municipality name] website simultaneously with the physical posting or publication in paper form of such notices and shall remain on the [municipality name] website for a period of no less than one (1) year.

Posting of Ordinances
All ordinances approved for introduction by the governing body shall be posted on the [municipality name] website within forty-eight (48) hours and shall remain on the website for a period of not less than one (1) year.

Posting of Agendas
All agendas of meetings conducted in accord with the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.) shall be posted on the [municipality name] website simultaneously with the physical posting or publication in paper form of such notices for a period of not less than five (5) years.

Posting of Minutes
All minutes of meetings conducted in accord with the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.) shall be posted on the [municipality name] website within 48 hours of approval by the governing body and shall remain on the [municipality name] website for a period of no less than five (5) years.

Posting of Forms and Documents
All forms and documents placed throughout the website shall also be placed and accessible on a designated web page reserved mainly for accessing, searching, and downloading all forms and documents on the [municipality name] website.

Posting of Bidding Opportunities
Current bidding opportunities shall be posted along with the following information, official bid notices, RFP#, description of service requested, bid opening date, official bid notices, winning bid amount, winning bid, appropriated amount, status of bid, sign-up form for bidders and shall remain on the [municipality name] website for a period of no less than one (1) year.

Posting of Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities for [municipality name] shall be posted on the [municipality name] website.

Posting of Vacancies
When there is a vacancy of any elected office or any committee, commission, board, or agency of [municipality name], within forty-eight (48) hours, a notice of vacancy shall be posted on the [municipality name] website along with duties and responsibilities of that position.

Posting of Department Information
Each department shall have its own dedicated web page consisting of appropriate content for that department, contact information and available forms and documents. Each department shall be responsible for providing and forwarding updated information to the webmaster of [municipality name] when it becomes available.

Requests for Public Records
The clerk’s response to requests for public information and documents shall include the use of e-mail, if so requested and provided that the requested information is in electronic format. The requesting entity shall provide the necessary e-mail address so that the request can be fulfilled. The requesting entity shall not be charged any monies for receiving public information and documents through email.

Planning and Zoning Information
Information concerning pending applications before the Planning and Zoning Board for Preliminary and Final Major Site Plans, Subdivisions, and variances under section 70 of the Municipal Land Use Law Use Variance. This information shall include the following:
a. The name and address of the applicant;
b. The address and location of the proposed development;
c. A description of the proposed development;
d. Name and address, where applicable, of the person preparing the plans and the attorney representing the applicant; and
e. The current status of applications.
f. Detailed colored architectural renderings for all proposed buildings

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