Freeholders Mull Internet-only Legal Ads

CREST HAVEN — Would the public be better served if the county’s legal notices were placed online, on the county’s website, instead of being printed in newspapers including the Herald?
At the Tue., March 22 freeholder meeting, Freeholder Susan Sheppard broached the subject with an eye toward saving money.
She cited a Monmouth County move toward posting “legal” notices on the Internet rather than in newspapers to cut costs.
Freeholder Gerald Thornton agreed that placement on the Internet was less costly,” but noted, “In this county, we have a high population of elderly who do not have computers. That would kind of eliminate them having access to public notices. I thought about that, it would be a lot less expensive.”
Director Daniel Beyel said the notices, including resolutions, requests for bids and notice of awards, are created on computer, then sent to legal newspapers for publication.
“We are talking $10,000 for legals,” Beyel said.
County Administrator Stephen O’Connor said the N.J. Association of Counties was “aggressively pursuing” the measure.
“A lot of people out there are not computer savvy or some just can’t afford it. It’s that simple, it’s about public access,” said Thornton. “I think they ought to have them in the Herald,” he added.
O’Connor said the concept was “mostly geared toward contracts. It’s geared to anyone out there bidding.”
Beyel agreed, comparisons for contracts are one thing, notices for the budget are different.
O’Connor said the concept was “permissive, allowing counties” to use the Internet for legal advertising, but did not dictate all would have to go there.
No decision was made at the meeting regarding placement of the ads.
Thornton said he was not sure if he would want to adopt such a policy without a discussion.
The New Jersey Press Association has been on the forefront with the legislation, according to NJPA Executive Director George White. The group opposes the passage of A2082.
Discussions have taken place between industry members, including Herald Publisher Art Hall and Press of Atlantic City Publisher Keith Dawn and Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st).
In order to attain “legal” newspaper status, a publication must meet a variety of requirements, among them a paid circulation (the Herald Times, being a paid publication fulfills that requirement), a second-class mailing permit with the U.S. Postal Service, and be generally circulated within the area or published within a municipality.
Those criteria being met, municipal and county governments are permitted, at their choice, to select official publications to print required ordinances and board actions.