NOTICE OF RIGHT TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT RECORDS OF UNION COUNTY COLLEGE

The New Jersey Public Access To Government Records Act N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et. seq. (the “Act”) requires that the College grant members of the public access to government records as defined in the Act. The Act safeguards from disclosure proprietary and private records and information.

Requests for government records may be made anonymously.

Upon payment of the applicable fee, the College is required to make government records available within the following time periods:

Immediate access will be provided to budgets, bills, vouchers, contracts, including collective negotiations agreements, individual employment contracts, and public employee salary and overtime information. Immediate access will be provided as soon as reasonably possible following receipt of the request if the record is not being used and is not in archive storage.

Not later than seven (7) business days after receiving the records request access will be granted or denied to all other government records provided record is currently available, not in use and not in storage or archived. Failure of the Custodian of Government Records to respond within seven business days after receiving a request is deemed a denial, unless the requestor has elected not to provide a name, address or telephone number, or other means of contacting the requestor, in which case the Custodian of Government Records shall not be required to respond until the requestor reappears before the Custodian seeking a response to the original request.

The requestor is entitled to be advised in advance of the estimated amount of fees and charges to be imposed by the College for the reproduction costs and other special services requested.

Right of Appeal. A person who is denied access to a government record by the Custodian, at the option of the requestor, may institute a proceeding challenging the Custodian’s decision by (1) filing a complaint with the Government Records Council, PO Box 819, Trenton, NJ 08625-0819 or (2) by filing an action in the Superior Court, Union County Courthouse, Elizabeth, NJ.

An informational pamphlet produced by the Government Records Council which explains the right of the public to access government records and the methods for resolving disputes regarding access, is available at the office of the College Custodian of Government Records. Assistance may also be obtained by calling the Government Records Council 1-866-850-0511 or by logging on to that agency’s informational website www.nj.gov/grc.

Georgia H. Hartnett
Custodian of Government Records
Union County College
 
Click here to download the Records Request Form.