March 5, 2015. Ocean Grove boardwalk, by Bob Bowné. © Special to Blogfinger
Bulletin: At the July 13, 2015 Township Committee meeting, an ordinance was passed that would fine homeowners who do not shovel after a snowstorm. We don’t have the details yet, but they will be available in time for the first snow. The Committee responded to pressure from our own HOA.
THE PUPPINI SISTERS:
Are people really offended by having to shovel their own sidewalk? And really, putting it on the OGCMA? Fine. Then you’ll agree to an additional assessment for snow removal like a HOA fee? OG managed a long time because most people were responsible enough to get their area shoveled. OG is not the only town with this fine. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea that people don’t think they should be responsible to have their sidewalk cleared.
Furthermore raises an excellent point — OGCMA owns the land! OGCMA should be responsible for sidewalk snow removal. We are just tenants!
I’m waiting for the promised details.
Is there a threshold in terms of snowfall inches that would allow minimum amounts that would present no problem and would gradually disappear?
Is there a time limit for the removal of heavy snows?
No need for the non-shovelers to worry. Neptune does not enforce their ordinances unless another citizen files a complaint which means we all have to become policemen and tell-tale on our neighbors. Who wants to do that?
I really hope that the Township stays on top of this; trying to walk after a snowstorm, with all the unshoveled sidewalks, is a nightmare!
Last winter I saw a number of houses that had friendly warning notices about snow removal attached to their front doors. Didn’t make a difference; the snow stayed on the walks until it melted or else was trampled into ice.
In the past people would responsibly remove the snow from their sidewalks. It’s not just OG, in the upscale town where I used to live, it would inevitably be the owners of the large homes with the most sidewalk who wouldn’t remove their snow. This non snow removal is a fairly new phenomena.
Ideally there should be no need to threaten to fine homeowners for not removing the snow; the homeowners should have something within themselves that would urge them to make arrangements to have their walks cleared so others wouldn’t be in danger of falling.
And there is pet friendly ice melt for dealing with the icy sidewalks.
Doubting Thomas, its called Ice Melt. OG Hardware will shovel & scatter ice melt for you in your absence. As for the supposed ‘civil right’ to not shovel your sidewalk, try explaining that to your insurance company when you are sued by someone who fell on yours. As for strong arm tactics, for years both Neptune Township & OGHOA have publicized that homeowners are supposed to have their sidewalks cleared within 48 hours of a snowfall. I think the fines will encourage those who lack the ‘good-will’ to follow the ordinance.
Pam: Certainly it is a safety issue, but are threats of fines the answer? Why not fine everyone who has allowed dangerous broken sidewalks to exist in front of their homes? And how about fining all those “gardeners” who have put dangerous objects in their grassy strips for people to trip over? And what about those who leave objects around their property where mosquitoes can breed or those who leave garbage exposed so flies can carry diseases to the neighbors?
Somehow, for 140 years, Grovers have survived without fining each other for snow covered sidewalks. And don’t forget, ice is the most dangerous part, and you can’t shovel that away. Will we also fine for ice glazing the cement?
There is such a thing as personal responsibility, and maybe appealing to that instinct will be better than threats. The HOA should approach it that way. Government cannot protect us from all hazards. The community needs to respond to this issue in a constructive way.
First they can send the fines to the OGCMA since they own the sidewalks. Then Neptune can fine themselves for not removing snow and ice from the street.
Doubting Thomas, since when is leaving a sidewalk unshoveled and so a menace to walkers a civil right? You are kidding, aren’t you? Putting an ordinance into place during the summer gives those absentee landlords and homeowners plenty of time to arrange to have a snow shoveler.
If they institute alternate side of the street parking after snow events there would be plowed streets curb to curb. Ocean Grove might be the only town or city that doesn’t have that policy.
Ho Ho Ho: Another ordinance that the Township won’t and can’t enforce. Those who embrace the ordinance are bossy do-gooders who will not be among those who will be charged with fines. Then try and collect this infringement on civil liberties.
Enough with the strong arm tactics—-they don’t work. Just look at how the Park View owner folded under years of threats of fines. If the Twp. couldn’t get that offender to tow the line, then how about leaving the rest of us tax payers alone, or do they just want to collect more money from that good old cash cow—the homeowners/saps of OG. The timing of this is wonderful, coinciding with tax increases.
There are other ways to deal with snowy sidewalks that do not involve threatening the homeowners. Maybe the HOA could find some solutions that don’t include cheap shot fines—it might give them a chance to do something useful besides jumping on or driving band wagons that hurt the rest of us—like their support of the NERP.
I’m sure the owners of the derelict buildings will get right on that!!
This is a good thing that the HOA has done.. I applaud them…There are many winter residents these days, and I am going to guess due to the increase of winter rental units… When we have a cold winter as we have had in the past 2 years..it becomes a hazard to walk in Town… when the sidewalks are not shoveled…. If you are a summer resident only or landlord Ocean Grove Hardware will shovel for you … in your absence……
Thank You OGHOA! Thank you Neptune Township! Just because you aren’t here in the winter doesn’t absolve you of being responsible homeowner. I’ve been a year-round resident for almost a decade now. Being a pedestrian here in the winter here is downright treacherous because of the snow and ice on uncleaned sidewalks. People who are financially well off enough to own multiple homes, yet scoff at the idea of paying someone to make their sidewalk safe when its snows for the safety of your neighbors. Shame on you! Talk about being cheap!