- MCANJ Current Members - lists.cit-e.net

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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

4 months, 1 week

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OPRA Reform Support Resolution

by mcanj-members＠lists.cit-e.net

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

4 months, 2 weeks

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OPRA Reform

by mcanj-members＠lists.cit-e.net

Hello MCANJ Members- I’m reaching out to you all in one more attempt to have those that have been impacted by OPRA in their offices to contact their State Representatives. If you want OPRA to change-this is your chance to make it happen. It has been noted that the bill is anticipated for vote in May. Please reach out to your Senator and Assembly Representatives<https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster> to tell them how your office has been impacted by OPRA, any OPRA requests you received that were cumbersome, resulted in a lawsuit to your municipality, staff you may have needed to handle your OPRA requests, fines you as the Municipal Clerk were imposed because of an OPRA you handled, or to offer your support to the proposed changes. Any and all support for this monumental bill is going to be appreciated by the sponsors who have taken the time to listen. As Municipal Clerks, we are on the front lines dealing with OPRA on a day to day basis, who else is better than lending our experiences to our Senator and Assembly Representatives<https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster>. As Municipal Clerks, we all know how OPRA impacts our offices, there is no doubt about it. With this bill, we have the opportunity before us to see the change that has been needed for years. The bill is not impeding one from filing an OPRA or preventing one from getting the records they are requesting. The bill delivers much needed reform to allow OPRA to continue the way it was properly intended. If you have any questions on this bill, please reach out to any of us on the Executive Board. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to reach out to your Senator and Assembly Representatives<https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster> on this important matter before them. Michele Michele Bobrowski, MMC, CMC, RMC, CMR, CPM President, MCANJ [cid:a881bcab-c208-4556-acce-1b0c0b9c6554]

4 months, 3 weeks

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MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF UNION COUNTY - 10TH EDUCATION SEMINAR

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Please see attached mini conference registration form from the Municipal Clerks Association of Union County. MCANJ Website Manager WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US

5 months

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General Code Municipal Clerks Honor Roll 2024 – Now Accepting Nominations

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Nominations for General Code's 2024 Municipal Clerks Honor Roll are now being accepted. Here’s your chance to recognize the hard work of Municipal Clerks, Municipal Secretaries, Municipal Recorders, Clerks of the Council, Registry Clerks, and others who work tirelessly to make our communities great places to live and work. Click here for more information and to make a nomination.<https://www.generalcode.com/municipal-clerks-honor-roll/?_cldee=lgyypLyfPj-…> MCANJ Website Manager WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US

5 months, 1 week

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Artemis Training

by mcanj-members＠lists.cit-e.net

In case you missed it! The New Jersey League of Municipalities is hosting Artemis Training. May 17, 2024 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Your Computer Click Here to Register<https://www.njlm.org/calendar.aspx?view=list&year=2024&month=5&day=17> This session pertains to the use of Artemis to manage your records for OPRA, Litigation, Audit and overall sound records keeping practices. In accordance with the Destruction of Public Records Act, Chapter 410, PL 1953, NJ DORES-RMS routinely provides assistance to New Jersey Public Agencies regarding the management and legal retention and disposal of their public records. Records Management Services is statutorily entrusted with the creation of Records Retention Schedules and authorizing Request and Authorization for Records Disposals for expired Public Records: Records Retention Schedules: In accordance with the New Jersey Public Records Laws PL 1953, c. 410 & NJSA 47, Records Retention Schedules must be created for the records maintained by a public agency, noting the minimum Legal and Fiscal time periods the records must be retained. Artemis, the DORES-RMS-generated online authorization for the legal disposal of public records (regardless of their medium - paper, digital, electronic, microform) whose retentions have expired. Prior, written authorization by the online creation and submission of a “Request and Authorization for Records Disposal” in Artemis must be obtained from DORES-RMS before the expired public records may be destroyed. Artemis enables users to: Search - General and Agency-Specific Records Retention Schedules Create - Electronic Records Disposal Requests and view the status (Pending, Approved & Denied) to legally dispose of their records Produce - Authorized Records Disposal Requests for OPRA, Audits and Litigation Generate – Reports pertaining to Records Retention & Disposal Presenter: * Karen A. Perry, NJ Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Records Management Services * Jim Jenkins, Records Analyst 1, Records Management Services, State of New Jersey CEUs Offered * CMFO/CCFO-2.0 Off Mgmt * CTC-2.0 Gen/Sec * CPWM-2.0 Mgmt * RMC-2.0 Rec * QPA- 2.0 Off Admin * CPA-2.0PD * RPPO/RPPS- 2.0 M/S * CRP-2.0 classroom * NJCLE-2.4 * PACLE 2.0 * Planning Officials-2.0 Technical * Land Use-2.0 Technical * Zoning Officials-2.0 Technical MCANJ Website Manager WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US

5 months, 1 week

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MCANJ "Camp Awards"

by mcanj-members＠lists.cit-e.net

Hello Happy Campers!!! Camp MCANJ would like to recognize our fellow Municipal/Deputy Clerks throughout our Association during the 2024 educational conference with a commemorative medal for their unique "camp" skills and talents. The best way for us to do this is to hear from the members who they feel are deserving of these special "camp" awards. The winners will be announced during the conference and in the July Edition of the Quill. Who knows best than you to nominate your fellow neighboring Municipal/Deputy Clerk for one of these awards. Thank you for participating in this survey!!!! The survey closes on Friday, April 19th! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CNRL2TK If you are selected for a “Camp Award” and not attending the conference, your medal will get to you either in person or mail!! Don’t worry 😊 Michele Michele Bobrowski, MMC, CMC, RMC, CMR, CPM President, MCANJ [cid:2950a9a2-2a2a-4e05-a47e-032b0cfd0d31]

5 months, 1 week

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OPRA Reform & Pending Legislative Bills to Watch for the Municipal Clerk

by mcanj-members＠lists.cit-e.net

Hello members of our amazing Association!! I wanted to send an email out to the Association to recap OPRA Reform Bill S2930/A4045 and to make you aware of the multitude of additional bills pending that impact your role in the Municipal Clerks’ office. This year we have seen significant bills being moved at incredible speed from Affordable Housing to OPRA Reform and a tremendous volume of bills that impact our role as a Municipal Clerk that I have not seen in my career as a Municipal Clerk. We have Deputy Executive Director/Director of Government Affairs for the New Jersey League of Municipalities, Lori Buckelew speaking at our up coming conference next month on Legislation in Trenton-I’m sorry Lori only has an hour and half to speak. Lori probably could have used a whole day to talk about the attached bills and then some. You can find these bills on our website as well under “Legislation” and can read them in their entirety. Our MCANJ Legislation Committee Chair Michele Siegried has been doing a tremendous job keeping up with the bills and updating the Executive Board and our Website Manager, April Claudio so we are aware of the every changing movement of some of these bills. On March 14th, OPRA Reform Bill S2930/A4045 was removed from the agenda of the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration. The week prior to this meeting there were some questioning, “Where are the Municipal Clerks in all of this?” For those to question this do not understand the complexity of our Association nor do they understand our role being a 501 (c) (3) private, non-profit organization that is devoted to supporting and advancing its members’ educational, professional, and personal interests. The Municipal Clerks who make up the MCANJ membership serve with distinction on the front lines of public service as they assist residents in accessing local government services and information. As a general rule, MCANJ does not lobby or engage in partisan activities. This is intentional and reflects that Municipal Clerks are involved in activities, such as election and licensing, that require the utmost integrity and independence to ensure public confidence. Our Association fully supports the principal foundation of OPRA, including transparency in local government and the right of residents to be fully informed about municipal operations. However, the law is regularly perverted in a manner that severely diminishes the noble purpose for which it was adopted. OPRA reform is essential to save the OPRA law from itself. Our Association has worked tirelessly from one Executive Board to another in trying to get OPRA reformed because we know the law is antiquated, needs to be modernized as its twenty years old, and is abused. The Executive Board and our OPRA Liasion has spoken personally and provided factual data to Senators, Assemblypersons, and members of the League of Municipalities. We have been asked twice to assist others on Amicus Briefs pertaining to OPRA. Its been our front line experiences that other organizations have asked us to share when it comes to helping them fight OPRA as well and has brought us before the Supreme Court twice and won. It’s your personal experiences we asked you to share with your State Representatives when it comes to Bill S2930/A4045 and you have- we appreciate you taking the time in doing so. Your State Representatives acknowledged the outreach. Please continue to reach out to your State Representatives and provide them your experiences-it will help them understand what you as a Municipal Clerk experience on a day to day basis when it comes to OPRA and provide examples. Though the bill has currently been stalled, its not been tossed to the wayside either. Many of our State Representatives agree that OPRA needs to be reformed and from those I have spoken with over the last two weeks, they asked for the bill to be tabled to make sure its right. Some State Representatives want to make sure items they are concerned with when it comes to OPRA are included as well that were not part of this initial bill. Our State Representatives have acknowledged to me that they understand OPRA has impacted the Municipal Clerks. Stakeholders are anticipated to meet next month to talk about the bill and we will be involved in that process. As Municipal Clerks we will work together with all parties involved in a dignified manner and as always we take the high road for resolution. As we move forward on Bill S2930/A4045 we will update the Association. If you wish to share with me any examples of situations you have been in when it comes to OPRA to have when speaking with all the stakeholders, please feel free to reach out to me at president(a)mcanj.us<mailto:president@mcanj.us> or our OPRA Liaison Kim-Marie White at kwhite(a)eastampton.com<mailto:kwhite@eastampton.com>. So to answer those questioning, “Where are the Municipal Clerks in all of this?” We haven’t gone anywhere-we have been working with everyone involved and many of the amendments to the OPRA reform came from State Representative listening to you, reading the headlines of the papers, reading GRC complaints, reading court case opinions, etc. These amendments come from fact driven data. The amendments are not arbitrary. The Municipal Clerks’ Association does not need to be front and center in the headlines on OPRA reform nor do we need hundreds of Municipal Clerks storming the halls of Trenton demanding ORPA reform-there is no need for that. Again, the fact driven data and personal accounts don’t lie and have been made available to the bill Sponsors and others who are involved in this reform. The proposed bill is an opportunity to see change that is long overdue. The bill is not impeding one from filing an OPRA or preventing one from getting records they are requesting. This bill delivers much needed reform to allow OPRA to continue the way it was properly intended. Two other bills to pay close attention to are: 1. Bill No. 2865/A4055 – Establishes “The Voters Convenience Act” -Introduced March 4th – Allows voters to vote at any polling location in their municipality on election day. Pending Assembly State and Local Government Committee. Came out of the Senate Committee on March 18, 2024 with Amendments. 2. Bill No. A2990/A3371- Provides for Immediate Issuance of Marriage and Civil Union Licenses. Bill was introduced on February 1, 2024. Introduced in the Senate, Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee March 18, 2024. This is a bill to watch for those with the dual title of Municipal Clerk/Registrar. And on the federal front, the U.S. Supreme Court issued two decisions when it comes to elected officials use of social media: Public officials can be held liable for blocking critics on social media - SCOTUSblog<https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/03/public-officials-can-be-held-liable-for-…> Our upcoming conference next month is a prime example of why you attend conferences and sessions regardless of needing CEU’s. Many of our speakers will be talking about the ABC liquor license changes, OPRA Reform, new election bills proposed/passed, proposed legislation pertaining to Vital Statistics, and the Affordable Housing Bill that was just passed this month. Our attendees will get the opportunity to speak one on one to many of these guest presenters during our round table discussions on Tuesday, April 23rd , listen in on the new Affordable Housing bill requirements and impacts on Wednesday, April 24th, and Legislative updates on Thursday, April 25th. By reading the attached bills introduced you can see there is a lot going on and our Conference Committee has made sure that our attendees will be listening in on the hottest topics occurring right now in our profession. For those that have registered, you will be in for a learning adventure!! Michele Michele Bobrowski, MMC, CMC, RMC, CMR, CPM President, MCANJ [cid:d60d01b8-d80d-4264-bfa5-23ea9fefbc9e]

5 months, 3 weeks

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Last Day for Early Conference Registration!

by mcanj-members＠lists.cit-e.net

Good morning everyone! Today is the last day for early registration price for the 2024 MCANJ Conference. Please visit www.njclerks.org<http://www.njclerks.org> to register. Remember to log in with your 4 digit member ID and password. If you don't remember your password, simply click, Forgot Password and follow the instructions to reset it. Below is the breakdown of rates/days of conference being offered. Early Registrations Before March 20, 2024 Registrations After March 20, 2024 Member Non-Member Member Non-Member Full Conference * $425 $555 $475 $605 2 Days - Tuesday and Wednesday $365 $500 $415 $565 2 Days - Wednesday and Thursday $380 $515 $430 $550 *Tuesday Evening, Wednesday Thursday, and Friday Last Day to Register is April 7, 2024! Payments must be received on or before March 22, 2024. [HOTEL INFORMATION Deadline for Hotel Reservations: April 7, 2024 Booking Website: https://book.passkey.com/go/GCLR24Z] We have a great conference planned and hope to see you all there! MCANJ Website Manager WebsiteManager(a)MCANJ.US

6 months

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Support for OPRA Reform Bill S-2930/A-4045

by mcanj-members＠lists.cit-e.net

Dear Members of the Municipal Clerks’ Association of New Jersey: As you are aware the last few weeks have been very busy as the OPRA Reform Bill has been moving forward. Senator Sarlo and Assemblyman Danielson have been working tirelessly on S-2930<https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/S3000/2930_R1.PDF>/A-4045<https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/A4500/4045_R1.PDF>. On Monday, the Assembly State and Local Government Committee and the Senate Budget Appropriations Committee moved the bill forward with amendments. The bill is scheduled for consideration by the Assembly Appropriations Committee this Thursday, March 14th with the hope that it will be considered by the full State and Assembly on Monday, March 18th. Please reach out to your Senator and Assembly Representatives<https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster> to tell them how your office has been impacted by OPRA, any OPRA requests you received that were cumbersome, resulted in a lawsuit to your municipality, staff you may have needed to handle your OPRA requests, fines you as the Municipal Clerk were imposed because of an OPRA you handled, or to offer your support to the proposed changes. Any and all support for this monumental bill is going to be appreciated by the sponsors who have taken the time to listen. As Municipal Clerks, we are on the front lines dealing with OPRA on a day to day basis, who else is better than lending our experiences to our Senator and Assembly Representatives<https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster>. As Municipal Clerks, we all know how OPRA impacts our offices, there is no doubt about it. With this bill, we have the opportunity before us to see the change that has been needed for years. The bill is not impeding one from filing an OPRA or preventing one from getting the records they are requesting. The bill delivers much needed reform to allow OPRA to continue the way it was properly intended. If you have any questions on this bill, please reach out to any of us on the Executive Board. Thank you for taking the time out of your day today to reach out to your Senator and Assembly Representatives<https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster> on this important matter before them. Michele Bobrowski, MMC, CMC, RMC, CMR, CPM President, MCANJ [cid:30ff2183-58a0-496d-bd65-1feabab0ea22]

6 months, 1 week

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MCANJ Current Members