On December 24, 2015, we said:
“Note that part of the process which has to be followed includes public meetings. When the Township Committee schedules those meetings, we plan to be there and we will encourage a large number of you to join us. Last time around, the Township announced the application and quickly swept the subject under the rug so that no one could oppose their plans. For some reason, the SIAB let that pass then; but not next time. We emphasized that point in Trenton on Dec. 17 when some of us got to speak to the Board chairman and others.
“At last night’s Committee meeting, Jack Bredin of Ocean Grove requested that when the public hearings are held, that they be held in Ocean Grove.”
When we were in Trenton, we spoke to the SIAB chairman about our desire to attend public hearings in Neptune regarding this matter because, for some reason, there were none prior to the application last time around. We assumed that there would be a special session in Neptune for all of us to discuss the matter with the Neptune Committee. But, not so fast!
After digging into the matter further, we learned that all Neptune needs to do is place the resolution on the agenda and then they can slip it by without anyone being the wiser. That is why they had no hearings last time—technically, that agenda item was a “hearing”—a call for comments, and there were none.
And the reason they can get away with such subterfuge is that the State does not require a public meeting in Neptune prior to the eventual SIAB public hearing in Trenton.
When Jack stood up at the Committee meeting last week and asked that the RSIS public meeting be held in Ocean Grove, no one told him that there would be no special meeting in Neptune. Jack spoke to Committeeman Brantley about it later, and Brantley said it was a good idea, but evidently he meant to have the entire committee meeting in the Grove.
So, when it comes to local government, we should all keep our eyes and ears open because the lack of transparency continues. Do not assume anything!
We need to watch for an agenda item to appear announcing a resolution to submit an RSIS application once again. And once we know that, we should go there in force and everyone who attends should go to the microphone (you get 5 minutes) and tell them that you oppose a special RSIS parking standard for all of Ocean Grove except for single family houses.
When we hear of that scheduled meeting, we will post it on Blogfinger. Save our town from condomaniacs! (Anyone want to make a banner to hold up that night?)
Can you tell us how to sweep the clouds away and how to get to where the air is clean?
I think it’s great that you are thinking about attracting a crowd for the Committee meeting that has the RSIS application to the DCA in Trenton on the agenda. But it’s not enough to suggest a job for someone else. There is nobody else to make and distribute fliers, unless you can convince the dopey HOA Board to actually get involved in opposing a policy that they approve of.
Otherwise, you will have to implement your suggestion yourself. And that would be a wonderful precedent for citizen activism. We can’t rely on the Home Groaners unless they have an epiphany, and if they do, Blogfinger will be the first to recognize that.
The agendas are posted by Neptune Township. You can get on their email list by contacting Roberta Grace at the Mother Ship (rgrace@neptunetownship.org or 732 988 5200 )
Thanks, Paul
Do we know how far in advance the Neptune Twp committee publishes their committee meeting agendas? If I may suggest, the creation of a flyer notifying residents of this important issue affecting our community and encourage their attendance at the meeting when it makes the agenda.
Paul,
The adoption of a resolution or an ordinance by the Township requires “a public hearing.”
Each member of the public gets 5 minutes to make comments. It would be on the agenda of a regular Township Committee meeting.
The Township needs to adopt a resolution for the required new application.
I had suggested the meeting be held in Ocean Grove.
Jack
When we requested clarification from the Dept. of Community Affairs, we received this email response:
“There is nothing in the Residential Site Improvement Standards that requires the municipality to hold a public hearing to help them prepare an application.
” NJAC 5:21-3.5 (c) 1i requires applicants to make copies of the application available. They also must make available “information concerning the date of any meeting at which the application will be considered.” This information should be made available by the office of the municipal clerk.”