Ocean Grove skyline across frozen Fletcher Lake. 2004. Paul Goldfinger photo ©
From Joel Scranton of Ocean Grove:
I met with two Neptune Township employees yesterday who were investigating the drain that enters Fletcher Lake on the farthest northeast side of the Lake, at the south end of Ocean Avenue. (not the drain into the ocean). The issue is whether or not this drain is working to its full potential.
This drain can be viewed by standing at the boardwalk gazebo between Ocean Grove and Bradley Beach. There you can see the drain entering the Lake.
We discussed how effective a pipe can be that is almost half covered by Fletcher Lake water. I wonder if the DEP will fine the Municipality for draining the lake so that the water level is below this drain pipe. I called Committee-person Bishop and advised him for update purposes.
I also wrote E-ailed (the m is left out on purpose!), every member of the Neptune Township Committee asking each member to read Blogfinger.net to view concerns being posted by their constituents. Then I took just a minute or two to copy and paste the individual comments I have made on Blogfinger and sent my post to the Township Committee; I have previously asked all Blogfinger readers and commentators to do like wise.
JULIUS LaROSA:
Joel: Thank you for trying to figure out how to get the attention of the Township Committee. Politicians do respond to public pressure. Look what Ken Buckley got done (re: ice and snow dangers) by speaking directly at the Committee.
But other modes of communication need to be developed, and our elected officials should themselves be finding new ways of outreach to the public–otherwise they exist in a bubble. How many Grovers have ever had a conversation with a Committee member?