Tag: New Jersey Municipal Law

New Jersey Municipalities Must Be Given Due Process Before COAH Funds Are Seized

A New Jersey appeals court has ruled that Gov. Chris Christie can seize unused affordable housing trust funds from New Jersey municipalities. However, municipalities must be given adequate notice as well as an opportunity to contest the transfer. Under current New Jersey affordable housing law, municipalities must spend money from

New Jersey Supreme Court Rules OPRA Has Limits

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently clarified that the state’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) does have its limits. The Court addressed whether certain records related to the Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic’s representation of its clients should be fair game under OPRA. The lawsuit, Sussex Commons Associates v. Rutgers, arose

Public Entities Immune from Vicarious Liability in 9-1-1 Operations

Earlier this week, we told you about Wilson v. City of Jersey City, in which the Appellate Division (on remand from the Supreme Court) held that the conduct of Jersey City’s 9-1-1 operators was not “wanton and willful” and thus they were entitled to immunity pursuant Title 52, N.J.S.A. 52:17C-10.

New Jersey Municipalities Facing Lawsuits Over Red Light Cameras

Red light cameras are taking a beating in New Jersey. The majority of the state’s 85 cameras are now dormant after the Department of Transportation found the red lights cameras failed to meet statutory requirements. Meanwhile, lawmakers are also looking into whether their use should be outlawed altogether. Municipalities that

New Jersey Lawmakers Want to Tie Tenure to Teacher Performance

New Jersey has one of the best public school systems in the country and ranks second in per pupil spending. However, many argue that New Jersey’s tenure program for teachers is in dire need of an overhaul to keep the most effective teachers in the classroom. Under New Jersey’s current

Senator Loretta Weinberg Champions the Public’s Right for Transparency in Government

Legislative efforts to strengthen the state’s Open Public Meetings Act and the Open Public Records Act have met significant resistance from New Jersey municipalities. The amendments, proposed by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, are intended to update the New Jersey open records laws and bring them in line with

Stop and Say Cheese: New Jersey May Ban Controversial Red Light Camera

The legality of red light enforcement cameras is under fire in New Jersey. While the cameras are intended to help police remotely detect violations of traffic control signals, critics contend that they have a minimal benefit on public safety while generating large revenue for New Jersey municipalities. Now, a proposed