1. Neptune Township has issued another stop-work order on the controversial new house at 65 Abbott Avenue. This is the house where the height of the foundation and front porch were found to have substantially exceeded what the Zoning Department and the HPC had authorized. That violation was discovered after the house had already been framed, roofed and sheathed, presenting the builder, Sawbucks Contracting, with a serious dilemma. On March 6 the Township ordered all work stopped. Sawbucks then obtained a permit to lower the house. In the interim, they also received permission to install windows and wrap the house in Tyvek to protect it from the weather. However, according to Township officials, they also proceeded with construction on the second-floor porch. Township Construction Official Bill Doolittle inspected the site this week, discovered that unauthorized work and ordered it halted. For previous articles on this subject, go here and here.
2. Marshall Koplitz remains in default of a Municipal Court consent order to rehab his nuisance property at 23 Seaview Avenue, also known as the Park View Inn. However, the Township is giving him another 30 days to come into compliance. Under the terms of a July 28 court order, Koplitz agreed to a rehab schedule, under which he was supposed to have submitted complete architectural plans by now as well as approvals from the Zoning Department and the HPC. Township Attorney Gene Anthony said this week that Koplitz’ lawyer, Michelle Lebovitz Lamar, had asked for the extra 30 days because the partners in Koplitz’ architectural firm had split up. Anthony said he would give Koplitz the extra time rather than hauling him back into court because he thought Koplitz had “a legitimate excuse.” More to the point, perhaps, he said he thought Municipal Court Judge Robin Wernik would consider it a legitimate excuse. For background on all of this, go here.
3. Since the Mary Beth Jahn/Nick Williams controversy erupted this past week, commenters on this website have been seeking to better understand the arcane world of Neptune party politics. In an effort to help, Blogfinger has obtained the names of the two parties’ district leaders from the Municipal Clerk’s office. All of Neptune is divided into 20 voting districts, three of which are in Ocean Grove, and the party leaders in those three OG districts, according to the Clerk’s office, are:
– District 1: Repubs Matthew and Elizabeth Gannon; Dems Randy Bishop and (vacant)
– District 2: Repubs Ed Wyzykowski and Eileen Kean; Dems Paul Ristow and Carol Bernard
– District 3: Repubs Denis McCarthy and Grace Ann Shotwell; Dems Jeffrey and Caitlin Wood-Yesline
Each of the 20 districts is entitled to have two representatives for each party. However, not all those positions are filled. The Republicans have none at all in some districts, while the Democrats have only one in several districts, including District 1 in Ocean Grove. These vacancies make the system even more exclusive, as does the fact that in many cases the party’s two district leaders are husband and wife.
That sounds like the Sawbucks I know,
In view of the above comments about 65 Abbott, I spoke today with Sue Solebello of Sawbucks Contracting, the builder of that house. She told me that the stop-work order originally issued by the Township was abated last Friday. She has a letter to that effect from the construction department. She also has a permit for the recent work that’s been going on, all of which, she said, is part of the remedy. That work includes protecting the structure from weather. Since the original problem was discovered and the work was ordered stopped, she said, “We have not done any work on the home that was not approved by the building department.” The remedy itself, she said, is to bring the foundation down to the exact height — “exactly, without compromise” — that was specified on the originally approved plans.
If they have pulled permits to do the work according the plans, the Stop Work Order would be lifted.
I walked past this house yesterday to look for a Stop Work Order. Didn’t see one posted. Did see lots of permits in one of the windows, including a permit to lower the foundation.
I agree. This house has actually had a fair amount of work done on it since the initial stop work order. The house has had windows put in, Tyvek wrap, roof work, porch work, and I heard interior hammering on something (doors?). This is hardly a project that is standing still.
If there is another stop order….why are the roofers working on the house? Something is VERY suspicious with this whole building situation. A stop order is a STOP order!!
Mary Beth, Thank You.
I know you don’t want to hear this as the opposing party; but I believe in both views being on the Township Committee and Beekman should quit out of embarrassment so that someone can take over who wants to win.
Maxster: The Neptune Republican Party chairman is Don Beekman.
The Republicans should be embarrassed at all of those empty seats, but then why would anybody serve for the Republicans, when their leadership keeps losing races? Who’s in charge of the Republican Party in Neptune— ex Mayor Tom Catley?
koplitz can’t submit rehab plans because the architects split up !!!
lets start a contest here to help him out…who can come up with best excuse for
him to use 30 days from now…i am sure it’s becoming increasingly difficult for him…so lets help him… i will start…
“my dog ate the architect’s plans”…not very imaginative but nothing i’ve heard from him is