All quotes below are from the minutes of the Township Committee meeting of June 26, 2017 and are taken from the public portion of the meeting when citizens get 5 minutes to speak at the end of the meeting.
“Jack Bredin, 94 1⁄2 Heck Avenue {in Ocean Grove,} stated that the tax map changed the name of Wesley Lake to Wesley Detention/Retention Basin. Asbury Park did not change the name and Neptune did change the name without action of the governing body.
“Mr. Gadaleta stated that it is still Wesley Lake even though the tax map was changed. Mr. Bredin stated that the tax map is the official map and that by changing the name to Wesley Detention/Retention Basin, it went from a recreational use to a municipal facility.
“He speculated that the Township is doing to declare that it is too dirty in order to fill it in and use the land as a parking lot or condominiums.”
Richard Williams of 1 Abbott Avenue went to the microphone:
“Williams stated that he attended a monthly meeting of the Asbury Park Transportation Committee. They are doing a trial run of one-side of the street permit parking and are considering free parking on the first Saturday of each month.
“They are also re-striping Main Street to three lanes and including a bicycle lane.
“In addition, developers are required to pay into a fund for future parking considerations. He was impressed at how proactive the Transportation Committee is and how much consideration goes into parking issues in Asbury Park.
“At the end of the meeting, Williams told them about the parking problems in Ocean Grove. He was informed that Ocean Grove needs to consider permit parking and that parking issues in Ocean Grove are not Asbury Park’s problem.
“Williams stated that the Township Committee is reactionary. There are issues with parking, the Neptune Police Department and the Historic Preservation Commission, and no one says what is being done. It is always up to the public to bring issues to the Township Committee because the Committee is not proactive.”
Beth Noble, 134 Main Avenue, “stated that she lived in Jersey City and they have parking permits. She had been coming to Ocean Grove on weekends but is now here full-time. She sees people parking in front of her home and then go to Asbury Park. She asked where the Request for Proposals for Historic Architect was advertised. Mr. Gadaleta responded that it was advertised on the Township web site, League of Municipalities and Preservation New Jersey.”
Ann Horan of Clark Avenue (former HOA President:) “Ms. Horan stated that it is becoming clearer that adding 18 parking spots in Ocean Grove is not solving the problem. The Committee needs to think about what can be done with the parking situation. The Mayor stated that the Township has looked at the parking situation several times and parking permits would be very difficult to implement.
The Mayor does not live in Ocean Grove and does not know what we go through from May through September. Negativity should be his last/middle name. I have been here 33 years and have seen all chances.
Everyday employees of AP park in front of my house for 8 hours and walk across bridge. On weekends it’s a nightmare. Paying all these high taxes for nothing but police/sanitation services.
We must get these permits NOW.