=== OPRA & OPMA ===
Berkeley Heights Public School Budget Data Still Withheld, Police Invoices Missing
Date: 2025-06-19
The District partially reverses position as a delay tactic and provide incomplete budget information.
https://nj21st.com/2025/06/19/berkeley-heights-public-school-budget-data-still-withheld-police-invoices-missing/
Oversight, Not Excuses: BOE Member Speaks Out on OPRA Mismanagement
Date: 2025-06-16
BOE Member Sai Akiri Writes Scathing Response to District's Continued Decision to Withhold Budget Documents
https://nj21st.com/2025/06/16/oversight-not-excuses-boe-member-speaks-out-on-opra-mismanagement/
No Names, No Budgets: Transparency Continues to Erode Under Feltre
Date: 2025-06-12
Provides an overview of the District's continued refusal to provide the public with budget information.
See Page:
https://nj21st.com/2025/06/12/no-names-no-budgets-transparency-continues-to-erode-under-feltre/
New OPRA Tool Available from NJ21st
Date: 2025-05-01
In light of recent changes to New Jersey’s OPRA law, we’ve made it easier for residents of the 21st District to request public records from their Municipalities, School Districts, County Government, and State Departments.
See Page:
https://nj21st.com/opra-request-municipal/
Private Tour, Public Questions: Does Recreation Department Invite Lead Council & BOE to Violate OPMA?
Date: 2025-04-16
Raises questions about whether Township and BOE members violated OPMA by attending a non-public tour together.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/04/16/private-tour-public-questions-does-recreation-department-invite-lead-council-boe-to-violate-opma/
More on the BHPSNJ Business Administrator’s Inaccurate OPRA Report to the Berkeley Heights BOE
Date: 2025-02-03
Examines discrepancies in public comments and logs related to OPRA request tracking by the BHPSNJ Business Administrator.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/02/03/more-on-the-bhpsnj-business-administrators-inaccurate-opra-report-to-the-berkeley-heights-boe/
The BHPSNJ Transparency Problem Timeline in 2 Minutes
Date: 2024-10-23
A synopsis of the District's Issues with Transparency from 2021 through 2024
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/10/23/the-bhpsnj-transparency-problem-timeline-in-2-minutes/
Sarlo’s Terrible OPRA Bill Passes Committee, Up for a Vote on the 18th
Date: 2024-04-06
Covers the advancement of Senator Sarlo’s bill that would drastically weaken OPRA. Includes analysis of the bill’s provisions, public backlash, and next steps in the legislative process.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/04/06/sarlos-terrible-opra-bill-passes-committee-up-for-a-vote-on-the-18th-2/
2 More Days Until NJ Government Goes Dark
Date: 2024-03-10
A warning about the imminent passage of legislation that would severely limit access to public records in New Jersey. Urges residents to act before OPRA protections are gutted.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/03/10/2-more-days-until-nj-government-goes-dark-2/
BHCW Starts Petition to Stop State Senator Sarlo from Ushering in an Age of Darkness
Date: 2024-03-06
Covers community-led efforts to fight back against proposed OPRA rollbacks championed by State Senator Sarlo. Includes petition launch, background on the bill, and how it would undermine transparency statewide.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/03/06/bhcw-starts-petition-to-stop-state-senator-sarlo-from-ushering-in-an-age-of-darkness/
Did the Former Berkeley Heights BOE Majority Get Acquitted of an Ethics Violation by Admitting They Broke the Law?
Date: 2024-10-23
Examines the BOE majority’s conduct and legal implications following an ethics complaint related to OPMA compliance.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/03/16/pamela-stanley-ethics-and-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving-2/
The OPRA “Opera”
Date: 2024-10-11
An analysis of BHPSNJ OPRA requests over a six-month period. Examines narratives about “abuse” of OPRA and the double standard applied to different types of requesters.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/10/11/the-opra-opera/
BHCW NightWatch Ep. 24: Attorney Walter M. Luers Accepts BHCW Open Government Award, Discusses OPRA and OPMA
Date: 2024-01-08
Attorney Walter Luers discusses the importance of OPRA and OPMA as tools for accountability in NJ.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/01/08/bhcw-nightwatch-episode-24-attorney-walter-m-luers-accepts-bhcw-open-government-award-discusses-opra-and-opma/
Transparency in NJ Had a Near Death Experience – What Now?
Date: 2023-12-28
Reflects on the push to weaken both OPRA and OPMA in 2023, and the citizen organizing that helped stall the effort.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/12/28/transparency-in-nj-had-a-near-death-experience-what-now/
Responses from Mayor Devanney and Members of the Town Council on Concerns Surrounding OPRA and OPMA Reform
Date: 2023-11-29
Compiles responses from local officials on controversial state proposals to reform both public records and public meetings laws.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/11/29/responses-from-mayor-devanney-and-members-of-the-town-council-on-concerns-surrounding-opra-and-opma-reform/
More Than Just Ethics: The First of Three OPRA Cases Validates Parent Concerns on District’s Costly and Improper OPRA Redactions
Date: 2023-02-18
A judge rules that the Berkeley Heights school district over-redacted documents in violation of OPRA law. This first decision marks a legal win for transparency advocates challenging improper denials and excessive costs.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/02/18/more-than-just-ethics-the-first-of-three-opra-cases-validates-parent-concerns-on-districts-costly-and-improper-opra-redactions/
BHCW NightWatch Ep. 6: Attorney Walter Luers on OPRA & OPMA, BHPS, and NJ
Date: 2023-02-22
Attorney Luers discusses how BHPS and other NJ districts comply — or don’t — with public records and meetings laws.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/02/22/bhcw-night-watch-episode-6-attorney-walter-luers-on-opra-opma-bhps-and-nj/
OPMA & OPRA: We Should Fearlessly Demand Transparency
Date: 2022-10-20
Examines BOE executive session minutes and raises concerns over vague, identical language used across meetings in potential violation of OPMA.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2022/10/20/opma-opra-we-should-fearlessly-demand-transparency/
Union County Prosecutor Investigations of the BOE: All the Letters
Date: 2021-09-25
Compiles and contextualizes correspondence between the Union County Prosecutor and the Berkeley Heights BOE. Details the investigation into potential violations related to reconfiguration decisions.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2021/09/25/union-county-prosecutor-investigations-of-the-boe-all-the-letters/