Blogfinger

The AP-OG connection plays a part in three of the issues discussed below. Paul Goldfinger photo.

Neptune Township Committee meeting of July 24, 2017.  Try and find some news in this summary of Ocean Grove related issues:

a. Permit parking.  At the last meeting, a referendum was  promised to be presented at this meeting, but parking was not even on the agenda.  File this in the “no news department.”

b. The people speak out on parking. There was a choreographed chorus line of OG citizens who went to the microphone during the public portion regarding permit parking.   (As they say in “A Chorus Line” :    dance—10 ;  looks—3)

The citizens at the mic seemed to be operating from talking points devised by the secretive Home  Groaners Assoc. (murky news.)

It sounds like the HGA has a new shtick, and that is that the only part of town with a real parking problem is the North End, and if only we had permits for that neighborhood we would make the home owners happy and stifle the Asburian Invasion.

But that is nonsense.  Even if the Northlanders (of which I am one) had a selection of permit parking spots to choose from, the Asburians would simply  compete with the rest of you for the remaining spots.  Only a comprehensive plan for all of Ocean Grove should be considered, because the Asburians are only a part of our parking issues.

The Groaners actually have a permit plan provided in then past by some consultant  but never released to the citizens of OG. Will the HGA share that plan?  Why are they keeping it secret?  This plan is ambitious and would designate over 1000 permit spaces in order to enable “the majority of residents to find a space.”  They  would allow one permit per household and would enforce the law only from May 15 to Sept 15.  (real news)

It should be noted that this plan does not favor homeowners.  Permits would be sold to all residents including renters.  The Groaners should hand out a copy to all citizens and open the floor to discussion. Note that the Township offered no recognition that such a plan exists.  The two of them (NT and HG) prefer secrecy—–why?  These groups are supposed to be transparent.

c. Neptune Township Police Department turmoil  (FYI)    Blogfinger will not be digging into this subject unless it works its way into OG, but you should know that the NTPD has been accused of discrimination, and that the Township has devised a new way to manage the NTPD but provides no details.  (murky news).   The most recent police director,  Michael Bascom, will be replaced by a committee of two Committeemen  (undoubtedly experts in police work) and a third person, yet to be named.

There is also a secretive report (no news) which is being withheld from the public (the Turner Report for 2014) which is about police inner workings in Neptune, and there is the NAACP demand for the Justice Department to investigate.  And there are two female police officers who are claiming sexual harassment.  The Asbury Park Press had a cameraman at this portion of the meeting, so this matter will go public despite the opaqueness of the Township.  (APP link below)

www.app.com/story/news/crime/jersey-mayhem/2017/07/25/neptune-police-director-eliminated/506056001/

d. The Wesley Lake Commission denies that the Lake is protected by the NJDEP-funded Green Acres program, but the Mayor said last night that the Lake is protected and is on the Neptune Twp. ROSI list. (Recreational and Open Space Inventory.)  This sounds like fake news from those who should know—the WLC.

The Wesley Lake Commission conducted its last meeting by strolling around the Lake. It did not allow a public portion where citizens could be formally recognized at the end of the meeting. Instead the Chairperson said that citizens could “chime in” at any time.   At least one citizen was denied the opportunity to be heard.  (real news)    There were also other violations of the Open Public Meetings Act.

The Commission’s jurisdiction is supposed to be guided by a watershed map, but no such map exists even though it has been requested by the public.  (“no news”)    The behavior of the Commission is at least as murky as the Lake itself.

And, to add insult to injury, an appointed member of the Commission called Jack Bredin a  (unmentionable expletive) out-loud at the meeting because he/she didn’t approve of his free speech.

e. In the “no news” department, the Committee again refused to explain the situation regarding the North End Revelopment Plan despite a formal request by the HOA. What are they up to in the back room of WAVE and the CMA?

FATS DOMINO  “Ain’t That a Shame.”

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