Responses to government records requests in NJ can be random, odd
A recent request to the state School Development Authority had quite a shocking response, or well, price tag.
As the Camden City reporter, I file requests for government records almost as a weekly routine. Government officials here aren't the most chatty, and sometimes it's quicker to get questions answered through documents than wait for the right person to call back. So, the New Jersey Open Public Records Act has become a close friend of mine.
But a recent request to the state School Development Authority had quite a shocking response. I had heard a rumor that some consulting firms working with Cooper University Hospital had acquired copies of the architecture plans and bid package for the Lanning Square School. So I figured if someone wanted copies of plans held by the government, an OPRA request would most likely be filed. OPRA requests are OPRA-able, so I requested "All School Development Authority Government Records Request Forms, which have been turned in to the authority, requesting Lanning Square School Project documents, including, but not limited to, bidding document, construction document and design package," as well as all replies to those requests.
Someone from the SDA did call me this time and said that processing my request would take awhile. In the meantime, she thought she knew what I was looking for and would send it to me. If I wanted or need more, I could follow through with the OPRA process. I agreed.
I got what I needed (at least the bare minimum of what I was looking for) and was able to write my story on Cooper Foundation pushing for Lanning Square School as a renaissance school.
On Monday, I received the actual response to my request: If I wanted SDA to search for all OPRA requests dealing with Lanning Square, it would have to be done manually. The bill to proceed with transparency? $726.95