By Paul Goldfinger, Editor and Jack Bredin, Reporter/Researcher. Blogfinger.net
On May 15 we posted a report of the May 14 Township Committee meeting where a rushed ordinance was presented for a first reading. It promoted a pro-business plan to restrict downtown parking to 3 hours per parker. No study had been done in preparation, and some Committeemen had misgivings, but in the end, all 5 voted for what seemed to us to be a strikingly deficient proposal.
A variety of concerns were expressed including the question of where the residents of that area who parked downtown would go, and that concern also was about those who work in the shops.
We have pointed out that there are often, in season, more cars in town, than there are spaces. And this is particularly true in the shopping district which is close to the beach. So was this just a mindless scheme to rearrange the chairs on the Titanic’s deck?
Who stood to benefit from this ordinance which seemed to be propelled at full speed ahead by some special interest? The most likely culprit seemed to be the Chamber of Commerce, pushing for an advantage regardless of the effects on the rest of the town’s demographics.
And why would the Mayor offer special attention to them when there already are concerns of favoritism at the Committee? Are they so blind to the optics of such suspicious behavior?
It is difficult to even track the origins of the plan. Somehow it was placed on the agenda by the Mayor, but why was it rushed through without preliminary study and discussion? Who was responsible for pushing this idea onto the Committee’s agenda and then trying to ram it through in less than two weeks? The issue of process is at least as important as the half-baked almost incoherent ordinance itself
To get the background, click on the link below
3 hour parking plan ordinance first reading
At the May 24 meeting, the new ordinance was supposed to have a final vote by the Committee after the public portion when anyone could get up and speak about it. It seemed like the ordinance would pass easily based on the first vote.
Remarkably, the President of the OG Chamber of Commerce got up and said that her group hadn’t discussed or voted on the issue, and that perhaps half of her organization was opposed to the plan. Some evidently were worried that the ordinance would be a bad public relations move.
But in the Coaster article prior to the first meeting, they reported that the Chamber was encouraging its members to go to the meeting and support the plan. As for the past history of this idea, this Chamber official revealed that Joyce Klein, of the OGHOA, had come to the Chamber with the idea 2 years ago, but that the Parking Task Force had shot it down.
So who brought it to the Committee now? The veil of secrecy once again is floating around the facts.
The meeting was sparsely attended. But when some Committeemen spoke now, it appeared that they were going to do an about-face on their own ordinance that had passed 5-0 on May 14. Carol Rizzo said, “We’ll do a study.” But she didn’t say who would do the study. Michael Brantley said, “We need a real study to make sure that we are not making things worse.” So a motion was made to table the ordinance, and that passed, in an almost psychotic reversal, 5-0.
Tabling means that it could re-emerge again, but obviously it’s too late to affect this summer season. Maybe it will be buried with permit parking.
What isn’t clear is why the Committee did a total flip-flop now since most of the facts that are now known were available when they voted “Yes” 5-0 on May 14. Did they come to their senses? Were they out of their senses for the first vote? Did the Chamber flip-flop and then strong arm the Mayor?
The public ought to worry about the procedures that are followed in the back rooms of the Neptune Governing Body.
BEVERLY KENNEY:
Arrogance and a absence of humility are what are detectable here.
Only public servants who truly serve the public deserve respect. The Neptune Township Committee, better known as Nick and the Knuckleheads, deserve derision for their continual failures to improve Ocean Grove. Rather, OG is their ATM machine – money going to Neptune projects.
Similarly,OGCMA is exploiting OG residents with “land rent” (very high for recent construction) and beach badge fees higher than AP, Belmar, etc.
And what is OGCMA doing for the secular citizens? Certainly not helping us with the parking mess. They do not want one side of each street reserved for residents because that would make parking more difficult for visitors who come to OG and spend money to go to their beach and/or auditorium.
Truth Teller: Thank you for an original idea to share with all of us who are the descendants (directly or indirectly) of the town’s founders.
Does anyone think that Ocean Grove was totally about religion? It was about a summer way of life to promote good values, family life and spirituality.
That should approximately be what the Grove is still about, with some modifications to reflect this new millennium. But the people of the Grove seem to think that the future will take care of itself. Really?
To get back on a historic track, a multi-sourced, insightful and layered approach is needed as suggested by Steve Volk (search his name in the BF archives)
The CMA really should take another look at its relationship with the townspeople of O. Grove. CMA help would be huge if they would re-examine the contradictions that exist in how they function, especially their cynical partnership with the incoherent and secretive Township Committee.
And as for the Home Groaners, somebody fire them and start over. Their numbers are seriously declining due to their incompetence.
All do respect to public servants, but today I say a flood of people using Ocean Grove as their parking lot. And there is a lack of strength, action, and conviction, that maybe bothers me more that the blank faces of hungry and war-weary free-parking seekers.
There were so many people, stumbling over the west Wesley Lake Bridge, they had to space their paces. Really true. Word gets around. CMA would be best to be more pro-active, to say the least. Why have numbers dropped at the events? Just watch an apocalypse zombie movie on Netflix.
And maybe there is bias against Ocean Grove. I wouldn’t like to think that, but the face of bias rings true. “Oh! Those peoples parking problems, are the least of their problems.” A good public servant listens, thinks and acts.
Ocean Grove people pay a good, healthy, slice of all the bills. No taxation without representation. Remember it.
Given the following I don’t see why there even is an ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce.
“And here in this small compass, a few of us proposed in the simplest and most unostentatious way, to assemble from year to year and enjoy summer rest by the sea*
“It was no speculation; no scheme for raising money, no device of any kind, but simply and singly social, recreative and religious — mainly excepting the few neighbors who might desire to worship with us,for ourselves alone*
“The great world we did not seek, but shunned.
“We wanted simply to rest and recuperate”
The Reverend Ellwood H. Stokes, first
President of the Ocean Grove Association.
It seems the CMA and the Neptune Council, and Mayor are worried about making some sort of mistake. But nellies need to be more concerned over the mistake already made: people using Ocean Grove as their parking lot.
Any choice to drive out drunken parkers and craven Asbury employers with no regard is a good choice! And such a wise and prudent action to accomplish that noble goal can be reversed!
So let’s see more action and less hand-wringing. “For God’s sake man, buck up.”