NJ Appeals Court Rules OPRA Requests Subject to OPRA

NJ Court Sides With Faculty Association Over Arbitration of Grievances

The Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court recently considered the proper body to decide grievances involving minor employee discipline by a state college. The case, Board of Trustees of Ocean County College v. Faculty Ass’n of Ocean County College, centered on the interplay of several New Jersey statutes.

New Jersey Lawyer

Time Is of the Essence in the GRC Complaint Process

The Government Records Council is tasked with reviewing and adjudicating complaints concerning a denial of access to a government record by a records custodian under New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act. It receives an average of 281 complaints each year. In its May issue of OPRA Alert, the GRC acknowledged

NJ municipal lawyer

NJ Court Rules Municipal Clerk’s Referendum Rejection Violated Faulkner Act

The New Jersey Appellate Division recently found that the clerk of the City of Hoboken failed to comply with Optional Municipal Charter Law, commonly known as the Faulkner Act, when refusing to file a referendum petition submitted by a committee of citizens.  The case, Tumpson v. Farina, provides a great

U.S. Supreme Court Resolves Key Administrative Law Issue in Telecommunications Zoning Case

A recent United States Supreme Court decision clarifies a key area of administrative law while also providing telecommunications providers with potential grounds to argue that a municipality is not promptly reviewing development applications for telecommunication facilities.  In City of Arlington, Texas v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 11-1545 (May 20, 2013), the

NJ Lawmakers Seek to Cap Sick Leave Payments to Municipal Retirees

Uncertainty Over COAH Funds Continues for NJ Municipalities

New Jersey municipalities have again received letters from the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) regarding the seizure of unused affordable housing trust funding. However, a recent court order provides at least a temporary reprieve. The Fair Share Housing Act allows the state to seize money that has gone

NJ eminent domain lawsuit

Third Circuit Rules NJ Borough Justified in Using Police Power to Restrict Access to Property Containing Unexploded Munitions

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled on an interesting case involving the Borough of Palmyra’s closure of an open-air market located on the site of a military weapons-testing facility. The court ruled that the municipality validly exercised its police power to restrict the owner’s access to the property

New Jersey lawyer

Appellate Division Finds Municipality NEVER Liable for Conduct of 9-1-1 Operators

The New Jersey Appellate Division recently ruled that public entities enjoy broad immunity for the conduct of their 9-1-1 Operators, regardless of culpability. Robert E. Levy Esq., of Scarinci Hollenbeck, argued the winning side of the case for the Township of Irvington in the case, Turner v. Township of Irvington,

Will NJ State Agencies Lose Veto Power Over ALG Rulings?

State agencies in New Jersey may soon relinquish their veto power over certain court rulings. The New Jersey Assembly recently approved legislation that would give the final decision to administrative law judges (ALJ) rather than allow the heads of state agencies to veto or modify rulings. The change would apply