Township Council Meeting — Agenda

with certain exceptions, for the protection of the public interest, and any limitations on the right of access . . . shall be construed in favor of the public's right of access." N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1. "In keeping with that goal of transparency," Paff v. Galloway Twp., 229 N.J. 340, 352 (2017), OPRA defines a "government record" as [a]ny paper, written or printed book, document, drawing, map, plan, photograph, microfilm, data processed or image processed document, information stored or maintained electronically or by sound- recording or in a similar device, or any copy thereof, that has been made, maintained or kept on file in the course of his or its official business by any officer, commission, agency or authority of the State or of any political subdivision thereof. [Id. at 352-353 (quoting N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1).] The public's right to access government records is not absolute. See N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1; N.J.S.A. 47:1A-9. OPRA excludes various types of information from the definition of government record, see N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, and courts "must always maintain a sharp focus on the purpose of OPRA and resist attempts to limit its scope, absent a clear showing that one of its exemptions or exceptions incorporated in the statute by reference is applicable to the requested disclosure." Tractenberg v. Township of West Orange, 416 N.J. A-2287-19 11 Pa011