Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.
The HPC Chairperson has notified Blogfinger that “any official statements representing the opinions of the entire HPC Board are not possible” per advice of their lawyer.
Debby Osepchuk, the Chairperson at the HPC, tells Blogfinger in an email that “a review of the Ordinance which controls the HPC duties and powers does not expressly permit the HPC to engage in a letter writing campaign to media outlets.” In other words, this important institution of historic preservation in Ocean Grove has been muzzled.
For those who care what the HPC thinks, don’t expect any more statements in the media.
Unfortunately, this notice represents another example of the “silent treatment” which we have documented as being pervasive in Ocean Grove and which is part of the lack of transparency that prevents the public from learning the truth.
I imagine that the HPC will have to formally tell the Township how it feels about the new guidelines, and if they do issue something in writing, that statement should be accessible via the Freedom of Information Act or perhaps posted on the Township website.
Those of you who want to know more should contact the HPC directly or go to their meetings. Maybe they would confide to individual citizens (ie their neighbors.) You also should be able to read the properly annotated version of the new guidelines when the Township posts that on their website, if they do.
Whether the guidelines will be changed to suit the HPC and those who support preservation in the Grove remains to be seen. The Township is in charge, and that is a disturbing concept given their track record of obscuring the truth.
Oh Gee, thank you for your description of what causes ‘a chilling effect’, and that is when ‘ the powers that be’ demonstrate that ‘if they squawk too loud, they may lose their job’.
This is an example of political corruption.
OhGee. thank you for this insider’s look at the situation. We need more like you to tell the truth on Blogfinger. I interpret that sentence by Deb Osepchuk to mean that if the ordinance does not say that the commission may provide policy information, then that means that they may not.
Her email about whether the HPC could send BF a statement says, “However an official statement representing the opinion of the entire board is not possible.” “However” means that since 3 of the Commission did make individual statements at the Committee meeting, that we could track those quotes down.
But we want to inform the public about the whole process and about what the HPC officially has to say as a board. It doesn’t look like they will be able to do that, but perhaps the information will leak to us by those public minded citizens who know what’s happening. We do accept anonymous info.
After all, that’s how Watergate won a Pulitzer.
As for your remark that appointed board members can lose their positions if they speak out, when the Planning Board voted in 2008 to recommend that the Committee establish an illegal Zone in Need of Redevelopment at the North End, a number of Board members stayed home to show their protest. There were only enough present to make a quorum, and that is how it got passed.
Those who stayed home were all dismissed from their positions on the Planning Board. So this is a concern that is real, and it is yet another example of stifling free speech in this town.—Paul @Blogfinger
HI Paul,
It isn’t about the Ordinance: “A review of the Ordinance which controls the HPC duties and powers does not expressly permit the HPC to engage in a letter writing campaign to media outlets.” *
In other words, it does not say whether they CAN’T or CAN. So they have every right to! Their lawyer may have suggested to remain mum until all the facts come out. Which – this is NEPTUNE – ain’t gonna happen!
Also what comes into play here is that the HPC (Historic Preservation Commission) consists of appointed members who can be swayed by politics.
Just ask Cat Crandall, whom served on the HPC for almost a decade. Ms. Crandall is the sister of Mary Beth Jahn (the only Neptune politician that dared to share here on Blogfinger.) After a year or two of Democratic infighting when Mary Beth Jahn was still a committeewoman, the Neptune Democrats decided to not support her for re-election. Not long after that, Cat was removed from the HPC Commission. This was not a coincidence.
So the HPC also fears for their own positions —– if they squawk too loud, they may lose their job.
*This quote is from an email sent to Blogfinger by HPC Chair Deb Osepchuk explaining why she would not be sending us the promised Commission opinion on the proposed Guideline changes.
An attorney should always support his client.
The advice from the HPC attorney does not support the HPC; it does just the opposite by creating a chilling affect on any appointed member of any Neptune board who may want to express their opinions on any proposed or established Township policy.
This is just unbelievable! This should hit the papers: “Neptune officials refuse to keep residents informed………” or, “Neptune Board doesn’t play fair……” or, “Neptune Board plays dirty with residents…..” I don’t have the nerve to call this in to the papers, but maybe someone else will. It’s unreal.
The wording “letter writing campaign” is very bizarre in this case, since all we are seeking is the news. We want to know what the HPC’s views are regarding the new guidelines. This is a matter of great public concern—it is not a “letter writing campaign” by the HPC. This language is compatible with the usual Neptune government default position which is to say nothing publicly.
We have had some members of the HPC thank us for helping to bring this situation to light. The wording in Ms. Osepchuk’s email suggests that the Commission members, as individuals, could say what they want about the guidelines. Several did get up and speak at the Committee Meeting. But will they and others on the HPC now speak out as individuals or will they be intimidated into keeping quiet?
We do have a free press in this country, and the works and rulings of public entities such as the HPC ought to be readily available to the public via the press. There is no rational reason to have it otherwise.
The HPC should be encouraged, not discouraged, to provide information and news to the public via the media, including the only Ocean Grove based outlet—Blogfinger.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
When you become a member if the HPC you do not give up your Constitutional right to Freedom of Speech.
The suggested HPC guidelines are a Public document and are not marked Top Secret. This is not a national security issue.
It is clear that developers and their political friends consider historic preservation to be a detriment to the developments they are planning for Ocean Grove.