Edison, NJ – Local resident and community watchdog Gail Lamoreaux is expressing frustration with the township’s continued delay in fulfilling her public records request for itemized township attorney invoices from 2022 and 2023. Lamoreaux, exercising her rights under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and the common law right of access, initially made the request on May 14, 2024.
Jessica Nill, a township representative, responded on May 23rd 2024, stating that the request would require an extension until June 13, 2024. However, Lamoreaux has since received identical responses on June 13 and July 5 indicating further delays without any explanation until July 19th. When questioned about the repeated delays, the clerks office stated all OPRA request go through legal.
“It will be over two months since my initial request, and the township still refuses to provide the itemized attorney invoices,” said Lamoreaux. “They are paying the bills, so why the secrecy around the details?”
Under OPRA, custodians of public records are required to fulfill requests within seven business days unless an extension is granted. While extensions are permissible, the law mandates that the requestor be informed of when the records will be made available. The repeated delays and lack of transparency from the township have raised concerns.
The records should be easily accessible, according to the Business Entity Statement filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission the firm of Rainone Coughlin and Minchello made $8,309,033.76 in public contracts 2023 while reporting $210,300 in political contributions. Edison Township was the largest client on that list paying the firm $745,199.20 in 2023.
“Transparency is essential for good governance,” Councilman Rich Brescher asserted “The public has a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent.” He continued “Governor Murphy promised changing the OPRA law would not effect anything and it doesn’t appear to be true in this case.”
The township’s persistent lack of cooperation and repeated delays, coupled with the attorney’s fees being paid without clear justification, raise serious questions about their transparency and what they might be trying to hide from the taxpayers of Edison.
Lamoreaux intends to continue pursuing the release of the attorney invoices and is considering further legal action if the township fails to comply with the law. As of today the township has not yet responded.
