The paper trail
Timeline
How four Flock Safety cameras came to Hopatcong, one dated step at a time. Every event here is tied to a source document we hold, either a record the Borough produced under a public records request, or an official government record obtained on its own. Nothing appears until it can be shown.
A primary source document in hand supports the event as stated.
The record supports part of the event. What is not yet confirmed is spelled out on the card.
Hopatcong PD adopts an ALPR use policy
DocumentedThe Hopatcong Police Department's written standard operating procedure for automated license plate reader use takes effect.
SourceHopatcong PD ALPR standard operating procedure, effective January 24, 2023. Borough of Hopatcong OPRA response, July 2026.
The Borough signs its Flock Safety contract
DocumentedChief Meghan McCluskey signs a service agreement with Flock Group Inc. for four solar-powered Falcon ALPR cameras. The initial 24-month term totals $23,400 ($2,500 per camera per year, plus one-time installation and data-retention fees).
SourceFlock Group Inc. service agreement, signed March 14, 2023. Borough of Hopatcong OPRA response, July 2026.
Sussex County introduces its ALPR permit ordinance
DocumentedThe Sussex County Board of County Commissioners introduces Ordinance 23-08 on first reading. The ordinance amends the county's road-opening permit rules to add guidelines for installing automated license plate readers in county rights-of-way.
SourceSussex County Ordinance 23-08, first reading August 9, 2023, as referenced in the Sussex County Board of County Commissioners meeting packet for September 13, 2023 (obtained independently from Sussex County).
Record on file, not hosted onlineOrdinance 23-08 scheduled for final adoption
Partially documentedOrdinance 23-08 is scheduled for a public hearing and final adoption by the Sussex County commissioners. Every county road-opening permit later issued for the Hopatcong cameras cites this ordinance as its governing authority.
Still being sourced: The county meeting packet for this date shows the ordinance scheduled for final adoption, and later permits cite it as governing law, but the certified roll-call vote record has not yet been obtained (only a blank pre-meeting vote template has been reviewed). This entry reflects the scheduled adoption, not a confirmed vote, and will be updated when the certified record is in hand.
SourceSussex County Board of County Commissioners meeting packet for September 13, 2023 (obtained independently from Sussex County).
Record on file, not hosted onlineSussex County issues the installation permits
DocumentedSussex County issues four road-opening permits (Nos. 190 to 193 of 2023) allowing the cameras to be installed in county road right-of-way, at no permit fee. The camera locations on the permits were redacted in the records released to the public.
SourceSussex County road-opening permits Nos. 190 to 193 of 2023, issued December 15, 2023. Borough of Hopatcong OPRA response, July 2026.
Council pays the first year in a bills-list vote
DocumentedThe Borough Council adopts Resolution 2023-175, a routine "payment of bills" resolution, which includes the $12,400 first-year Flock payment (purchase order 23-02028) among more than 140 unrelated vendor payments. The agenda carries no separate item naming the camera program, and no standalone vote on it appears in the packet.
SourceBorough of Hopatcong Resolution 2023-175 and the accompanying bill list, adopted December 20, 2023. Independently obtained Council agenda packet on file.
Council pays the second year the same way
DocumentedThe Council adopts Resolution 2024-138, another bills-list resolution, including the $11,000 second-year Flock payment (purchase order 24-01688). Again there is no separate agenda item or standalone vote on the cameras.
SourceBorough of Hopatcong Resolution 2024-138 and the accompanying bill list, adopted October 16, 2024. Independently obtained Council agenda packet on file.
Council pays the first renewal year
DocumentedThe Council adopts Resolution 2026-71, a bills-list resolution, including the $14,000 renewal payment (purchase order 25-01914). The per-camera price has risen from $2,500 to $3,000. As before, the payment is swept in with unrelated bills, with no separate vote on the program.
SourceBorough of Hopatcong Resolution 2026-71 and the accompanying bill list, adopted March 4, 2026. Independently obtained Council agenda packet on file.
The public records request that opened the file
DocumentedA Borough resident files an Open Public Records Act request for the contracts, invoices, permits, policies, and communications behind the camera program. The Borough's response is the documentary basis for this site.
SourceOpen Public Records Act request to the Borough of Hopatcong, filed July 6, 2026 (the request document is published in the Records section).
The county oversight agency is asked for its own records
DocumentedThe file widens beyond the Borough. A second Open Public Records Act request, filed by another member of the public, goes to the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office, the agency that sets and audits automated license plate reader policy for law enforcement across Sussex County. It asks for that office's own ALPR policy, its annual compliance audits, and the locations of its cameras. The office produces the policy and the audit certifications, and refuses to release camera locations.
SourceSussex County Prosecutor's Office records request and response, July and August 2026.
A note on what is not yet here
This timeline shows only events backed by a source document in hand. Two threads are still being sourced and are deliberately left off until they can be shown:
- A May 10, 2023 county discussion of Hopatcong's request. Reported in the press, but held offline until Sussex County's own minutes for that date are obtained. As of August 2026, minutes for that meeting are not posted on Sussex County's own online Agenda Center, nor are minutes posted there for four other meetings from the same stretch (May 24, June 14, June 28, and July 12, 2023). A direct request to the county for the certified minutes is in progress.
- The certified vote record for Ordinance 23-08's final adoption on September 13, 2023. The meeting packet shows it scheduled, and every later permit cites it as law, but the certified roll-call result is still being requested.
Source: Borough of Hopatcong OPRA response, July 2026, and independently obtained public records.