REMINDER!!
The Municipal Clerks’ Association of New Jersey is now accepting New and Renewal Membership Applications for FY2025
(7/1/24 – 6/30/25) through our online system.
MCANJ offers the following classes of membership:
1. Regular Membership – Any person holding the office of Municipal Clerk, Acting Municipal Clerk, County Clerk, or Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of any Municipality or County in NJ. ($100 Annual Fee)
2. Associate Membership – Any person holding the office of Deputy or Assistant Municipal Clerk, Deputy County Clerk, or Deputy Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners. ($75 Annual Fee)
3. Honorary Membership – Any Regular, Associate or Affiliate Member in good standing upon retirement. $0 Annual Fee (Honorary Members must still renew their membership online each year so we have your most up-to-date contact information).
4. Affiliate Member – Any person holding any governmental or educational office of employment, or any person interested in promoting the objectives of the Association who is not eligible for Regular, Associate or Honorary membership. ($75 Annual Fee)
Registration online is simple and quick. You don’t need to send your PO for our signature, as the confirmation/invoice which is generated from the system has been approved by the Local Finance Board to be acceptable for use by Counties and Municipalities in the State.
Credit card payments are accepted!
Help keep our membership strong by prompt submission of your membership application on or before October 1, 2024 and to stay up to date with constant ongoing changes in our profession!
Click here to renew!<https://www.njclerks.org/cn/webforms/form.cfm?FormID=155&tpid=18590>
MCANJ Website Manager
WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US
Good morning members:
Our Secretary Edith Gil has found a great opportunity to earn CMC/MMC points. The New England Municipal Clerks Institute and Academy is offering an on demand 5 class series that you can take at your own speed for a discounted rate of $60 total. This gives you the chance to earn 5 CMC or MMC points.
The courses are geared towards being prepared for the upcoming Presidential election.
Here's the link to register.
https://visioneerlearning.com/products/presidential-election-2024
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
Municipal Clerks’ Association of New Jersey
Legal Defense Fund
The Legal Defense Fund was established by the Municipal Clerks’ Association to financially assist Municipal Clerks when actions have been taken against them in the performance of their duties.
The Legal Defense Fund application for FY2025 is now open to members of MCANJ. Initial Dues are $75 for the year and renewals are $25 for each subsequent year. Use your 4-digit Membership ID and password to log into the application. Once you complete the application, you will get confirmation of your membership. If paying by check, please mail a copy of the invoice with your check. Please make sure you mail the invoice and check to the Treasurer at the address listed on the invoice as the address changed from last year.
Payment is due by November 1, 2024. If your payment is not received by that date, you will be deleted from the system and have to join as a new member. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO RENEW<http://www.njclerks.org/cn/webforms/form.cfm?FormID=164&tpid=18590>
Important! You must renew your MCANJ Annual Membership before you can join or renew with the Legal Defense Fund.
MCANJ Website Manager
WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US
Thank you for your patience as we transitioned to a new payment processor. Membership renewal is now live!! Please read below.
The Municipal Clerks’ Association of New Jersey is now accepting New and Renewal Membership Applications for FY2025
(7/1/24 – 6/30/25) through our online system.
Membership in the Municipal Clerks’ Association of New Jersey (MCANJ) offers an instant network to hundreds of fellow Municipal Clerks along with Acting Municipal Clerks, Deputy Clerks, County Clerks, Clerks of the Board of County Commissioners, Retired Municipal Clerks, Associate/Affiliate Members, local Professional Government Officials in New Jersey and beyond. MCANJ offers meaningful and affordable educational opportunities to its members through an Annual Education Conference and members can earn continuing education credits towards their RMC certification renewal at these sessions along with other licenses they may hold for their Municipality.
MCANJ also keeps on top of changes in Trenton and disseminates this information to its membership through its continued communications. Municipal Clerks, the oldest of local government officials, offers camaraderie like no other; with members offering assistance when needed especially to non-seasoned Municipal Clerks or Municipal Clerks who may not have faced a particular situation before. Municipal Clerks will undoubtedly develop new and long-lasting friendships when they join MCANJ.
MCANJ offers the following classes of membership:
1. Regular Membership – Any person holding the office of Municipal Clerk, Acting Municipal Clerk, County Clerk, or Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of any Municipality or County in NJ. ($100 Annual Fee)
2. Associate Membership – Any person holding the office of Deputy or Assistant Municipal Clerk, Deputy County Clerk, or Deputy Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners. ($75 Annual Fee)
3. Honorary Membership – Any Regular, Associate or Affiliate Member in good standing upon retirement. $0 Annual Fee (Honorary Members must still renew their membership online each year so we have your most up-to-date contact information).
4. Affiliate Member – Any person holding any governmental or educational office of employment, or any person interested in promoting the objectives of the Association who is not eligible for Regular, Associate or Honorary membership. ($75 Annual Fee)
Registration online is simple and quick. You don’t need to send your PO for our signature, as the confirmation/invoice which is generated from the system has been approved by the Local Finance Board to be acceptable for use by Counties and Municipalities in the State.
Credit card payments are accepted!
Help keep our membership strong by prompt submission of your membership application on or before October 1, 2024 and to stay up to date with constant ongoing changes in our profession!
Click here to renew!<https://www.njclerks.org/cn/webforms/form.cfm?FormID=155&tpid=18590>
Don’t forget to update the mailing address for membership payments to:
Ann Marie McCarthy, MCANJ Treasurer
Franklin Township
475 DeMott Lane
Somerset, NJ 08873
treasurer(a)mcanj.us<mailto:treasurer@mcanj.us>
Effective August 1, 2024, MCANJ members will receive notification of the commencement of the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) renewal. Remember, you must be a paid MCANJ member to join the LDF.
When you renew your membership, you will need your 4-digit Membership ID# you received last year to log into the website. The Membership ID is your username for the MCANJ Members Only portal. PLEASE DO NOT CREATE A NEW MEMBER ID IF YOU WERE A FY2024 MEMBER!! If you have any questions about this, please email websitemanager(a)mcanj.us<mailto:websitemanager@mcanj.us>.
Thank you so much & I look forward to having you all continue as members of the MCANJ family!
Deanna Bennett
President
Good morning,
If your municipality has hired a Cannabis Auditor, can you please contact Past President Denise Cafone at dcafone(a)fairfieldnj.org<mailto:dcafone@fairfieldnj.org>. Thank you.
MCANJ Website Manager
WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US
Good afternoon MCANJ members,
Typically, MCANJ membership renewal begins July 1st but we might be slightly delayed, as we are switching over to a new payment processing system, which will not only allow us to continue with accepting credit card payments but will now allow e-checks. Please do not renew your membership now. You will receive an email with instructions as to when the membership renewal will be open and how to renew. REMEMBER!!! You will need to log into the website using your 4-digit membership ID number you received this time last year.
Thank you for your cooperation.
MCANJ Website Manager
WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US
Dear MCANJ Members-
We wanted to let you know that the 12 Noon Lunch & Learn being sponsored by the NJLM on June 11th has reached capacity. The NJLM is offering a second presentation at 3PM on Wednesday, June 11th as well. When you register on the link for the Noon presentation you will automatically be enrolled now into the 3PM presentation. While the session is free, advanced registration<https://www.njlm.org/FormCenter/Legislative-Briefings-20/Lunch-Learn-OPRA-M…> is required. Click Here to Register!<https://www.njlm.org/FormCenter/Legislative-Briefings-20/Lunch-Learn-OPRA-M…>
These are some highlights of the bill:
* Attorney fees are now “may” instead of “shall” except if the public agency was determined to have unreasonably deny access, acted in bad faith, or knowingly and willfully violated OPRA than attorney fees are mandatory
* Records custodians are no longer personally fined. The Fine is with the public agency.
* Implements the recommendations of the Privacy Study Commission including:
* Any personal email address required as part of government application, service, or programs
* Portion of the document that discloses the personal identifying information (name, email, primary telephone number, primary & secondary home address) of any person provided to the public agency for the sole purpose of receiving official notices
* Any portion of the document that discloses debit card number, bank account information, month and day of birth
* Expands exemptions to include records such as metadata, owner and maintenance manuals, and limits public buildings security alarm system activity and access reports including video footage.
* Fulfills an OPRA request by providing the requestor with a link to the documents on the website. Does provide an option for the requestor to have the documents printed but the fee is doubled ($0.05 to $0.10 and $0.07 to $0.14/ page)
* Do not have to establish special service charges in advance by ordinance.
* Custodian must convert the record to the medium or format requested if the medium or format is available to public agency and does not require a substantial amount of manipulation or programming or the services of 3rd party vendor. Can charge a fee. But if it requires a substantial amount of manipulation, programming, or service of 3rd party vendor the custodian is under no obligation to covert.
* Provides path to address abuses through Superior Court.
* Permits anonymous request but they cannot file a denial without disclosing their identity.
* Changes the composition of the GRC and their processes.
* The custodian shall grant access to a government record or deny a request for access to a government record as soon as possible, but not later than 7 business days after receiving the request , or 14 business days to fulfill commercial requests/compliance with Daniels Law & the custodian advises the requestor of the additional time.
* The request shall not be considered submitted until it is received by the Custodian of Records.
* If your agency did not create a requested document, it is not required to produce it and you would direct the requestor the to appropriate agency to obtain it.
* The custodian shall not be required to complete an identical request for access to a government record from the same requestor if the information has not changed (Requestor can file a periodic request regarding regularly updated public records including but not limited to certified payrolls, permits and licensing applications.)
* New requirements and penalties for releasing video and photos of individuals without consent.
Please do not rely on news accounts and social media coverage of the bill because unfortunately there has been a lot of misinformation these past few months and days as to what the bill entails which has been unfortunate. The June 11th presentation will provide a complete update of the new OPRA reform and additional learning opportunities will be provided over the next few months prior to the bill being taking effect.
Thanks!
Michele Bobrowski, MCANJ President & Kim Marie White, MCANJ Past President/MCANJ OPRA Liasion
[cid:1cf43843-ca56-48bc-8fe6-611202cc0858]
Good evening, Members of MCANJ:
I wanted to let you all know that we have received word that Governor Murphy has signed the OPRA Reform bill this afternoon. This is a huge moment for Municipal Clerks in New Jersey who have been fighting for this change for years. MCANJ fully supports the principled public policy foundation of OPRA, including transparency in local government and the right of residents to be fully informed about municipal operations. However, the law has been regularly perverted in a manner that severely has diminished the noble purpose for which it was adopted and OPRA reform was essential to save the OPRA law from itself.
As Municipal Clerks, what we and our Association have brought forth to many of our elected Officials over the last several years is our personal experiences and data from the Municipal Clerks who hold a unique position on the front line of handling OPRA, and this has been an effective tool to convey the significant problems and abuses that occur when it comes to OPRA. Our Association was involved in a significant Amicus Brief in 2022 that has played a significant role for our Association. It’s been our front-line experiences that have brought us twice before the Supreme Court and won because it’s fact and data based and it’s that experience that other organizations have asked us to share when it comes to them fighting OPRA as well.
In New Jersey, the Municipal Clerk occupies one of the most important and exacting positions in municipal government. In many instances, it is the hub of municipal operations. The Municipal Clerk, by virtue of his or her position, serves as a liaison officer between the governing officials and the taxpayers and between the executive and the general body of municipal personnel. The Municipal Clerk is an important public relations figure in municipal personnel. We do not have 9 to 5 jobs. Many of us find ourselves working 24 hours a day/7 days a week to ensure our work gets done because as the hub of municipal operations you never know what awaits you when you walk through your door each morning and one matter, inquiry, or assisting the public can take up a good part of your day.
The current OPRA Reform bill is not reinventing the wheel, it’s requests that have been sent to our State Representatives since 2019 with the same needed reform nor is it that of cries from municipal employees who do not want to do our jobs. That could not be farther from the truth. As municipal employees we develop community bonds with our residents by working on the front lines. We talk to them when they come into the office, ask how their family is doing, and catch up with them. If a resident is looking for a record pertaining to the Municipality, we are going to go out of our way to get them that document, it’s their document as a taxpayer. But, when commercial entities are constantly emailing OPRA requests looking for the latest list for dogs licensed that month, inground pool permits issued, solar roof permits issued, etc. it causes our residents to not want to license their dog, comply with permits, or interact with the Municipality because they don’t want their information released to the public.
This bill is not impeding one from filing an OPRA request or preventing one from getting the records they are requesting as it's been reported in the news. This bill delivers much needed reform to allow OPRA to continue the way it was properly intended. Though the bill is not perfect, it’s a step in the right direction and we recognize that there can never be a one size fits all when it comes to OPRA.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
1. The OPRA Reform Bill does not take effect until 90 days from today which we are being told will be after Labor Day.
2. The NJLM will be hosting a Lunch & Learn of the new OPRA Reform Bill, Tuesday, June 11th- More details will be announced and additional trainings will be made available.
3. You must continue to handle OPRA Requests until September 4th as you currently do.
4. Municipal Clerks are going to be challenged by advocates-remain vigilant these next few weeks and stay strong.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to your elected officials, shared your stories and experiences of OPRA-it's only going to get better from here on out! We will get there one step at a time!!!
As we learn more from today's bill signing, we will share it with our members.
President Michele Bobrowski & Past President Kim-Marie White (MCANJ OPRA Liaison)
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Members:
We are pleased to share some promising news regarding the progress of S-2930/A-4065, legislation aimed at modernizing the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). While we're not over the line just yet, the favorable passage of this bill marks a significant step forward in making various and long-overdue reforms to OPRA.
The Municipal Clerks Association of New Jersey (MCANJ) extends its gratitude to the Senate and Assembly for their bipartisan support in passing this legislation. We especially thank the Senate President, Speaker, Senator Sarlo, Senator Bucco, Assemblyman Danielsen, and Assemblywoman Flynn for their sponsorship and tireless efforts to reach this point.
This legislation is crucial as it not only preserves access to public records but also addresses privacy concerns that have been recommended for over two decades. Additionally, it helps level the playing field regarding attorney fees, which is a significant advancement in ensuring fairness for all parties involved.
While there's still work to be done on other reforms, we remain committed to collaborating with the Legislature to achieve further improvements. We are hopeful that Governor Murphy will quickly sign this legislation into law, bringing us one step closer to a more transparent and accountable governance.
Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to these important initiatives.
Michele Brobowski, President and Kim-Marie White, Past President
Good morning,
A sample resolution supporting S-2930/A-4045 is attached for your use. Please free to modify as you deem appropriate. Please send a copy of the adopted resolution to njleague(a)njlm.org<mailto:njleague@njlm.org>.
Please let your Assembly Representatives know you support and welcome open transparent government, but do not support commercial entities exploiting OPRA for financial gain at the expense of taxpayers and your residents losing their privacy because they applied for a license or signed up for a municipal program. Legislation that would modernize the Open Public Records Act (A-4045<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fpub.njleg.state.nj.us%2…>/S-2930<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fpub.njleg.state.nj.us%2…>) does not hinder a resident or journalist from using OPRA to get access to public records, but it will protect citizens' personal information from disclosure. It addresses the burdensome commercial requests that transformed OPRA into a commercial tool. It will reaffirm the original intent of OPRA to provide copies of records in the municipality’s possession and not create records or perform research.
It is anticipated that the legislation will be further amended before it is considered for final action. The NJ League of Municipalities will continue to provide us with updates on these developments.
Thank you!
MCANJ Website Manager
WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US
