Mayor

Please review the link below regarding “isis-published-list-targets-includes-new-jersey-police-officers”. This reinforces my belief and most council members of not posting employee information on our webpage for public access. Transparency, open government and communication are three important goals that my administration has been proactive in providing the public. Safety of our residents and employees is very important to me. The article below is right on point of why I do not allow employees names and associated salary details on our website. As a proactive approach I had our Police Department eliminate all non- command level information from their website. I know most of you understand public information is not only accessible to the 24,000 plus Rockaway Township residents but to over a billion internet users with some seeking to use this information for bad things. Why make it any easier for people with bad intentions to put the safety and security of our employees at risk. Some on the council dispute this belief and say I am trying to restrict citizens' rights to public information and stroke fear of identity theft and terrorism. As Mayor of Rockaway Township it is important for me to keep the residents informed and our staff safe.

On the Township website we list the salary ordinance with positions and wage information. More detailed payroll information can be acquired by submitting an OPRA request to the Municipal Clerk's office. We have instituted an open budget program that will allow the residents to see how their tax dollars are spent without the potential risk to the people who serve you, our dedicated staff.

Mayor Michael Dachisen

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