Montclair Local Interviews CJ Griffin Regarding BOE’s Troublesome OPRA Delays

CJ Griffin, partner and director of the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., was featured in a Montclair Local article titled, “Montclair Board of Education Fails to Meet OPRA Request Deadlines.” The article discusses the failure of the Montclair Board of Education to respond to multiple OPRA requests in a timely manner.  In New Jersey, the custodian of public records must respond to an OPRA request within seven business days or request an extension within that time period.

CJ Griffin, a media and public interest attorney, said, “The Montclair BOE is terrible in complying with OPRA’s deadlines. I’m not sure what’s going on, but the custodian needs to take the deadlines seriously.”

The article further discusses how the Montclair Board of Education requires the OPRA request to be delivered in person or by fax, while other area public school districts offer an online process.

Griffin refers to the process, saying, “The BOE needs to provide tracking software or more staffing, to make sure that residents can get their requests fulfilled on time. These delays will end up costing taxpayers money when someone finally gets fed up enough to sue.”

To read the full article, click here.