Jack Bredin reviews his Wesley Lake notes. Blogfinger is determined to get State officials involved in the matter of WL pollution. Blogfinger photograph. 11/9/18 ©
By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor @Blogfinger.net
When Jack Bredin and I attended the last meeting of the State Site Improvement Advisory Board, Jack was allowed to make a statement regarding a variety of concerns about the pollution of Wesley Lake. Here is a link about that visit:
Blogfinger visits Trenton about Wesley Lake 10/18/18
On November 8, 2018, we received a letter from Mr. John R. Lago of the NJ Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards. He is representing Mr. Joseph E. Doyle, Chairman of the SIAB who was interested in responding in a meaningful way to Jack’s statement last month where help was requested in doing something about Wesley Lake pollution.
Mr. Lago said that “Mr. Bredin accurately described the Wesley Lake problem.” He noted that two Ocean Grove residents had attended the meeting and he verified that the lake “historically functions as a runoff basin for roads” and that the lake is on the Green Acres ROSI list (Recreational Open Space Inventory.)
Mr. Lago personally contacted the Monmouth County engineering and planning departments and he discovered that neither department has cleanup of the lake on a “to do” list.
He also reached out to the Neptune Township engineer and planner, Ms. Leanne Hoffman, who pointed to the Wesley Lake Commission as an entity that was designated to “improve conditions” in the lake. She has received a copy of today’s letter, so there is no way for her to avoid this spotlight.
Mr. Lago then formally contacted a DEP administrator with the Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control, Mr. James Murphy, Engineer, Stormwater Management Unit, Division of Water Quality regarding state programs “that might be helpful.” Mr. Lago wondered if the DEP might get involved.
We have a copy of Mr. Murphy’s letter of response in which he “suggested several initiatives.”
In addition, there was mention of “an inspection by our regional enforcement people.”
Jack and I plan to contact a number of the people/agencies which were formally mentioned to us. We have no idea whether Ms. Hoffman plans to do anything useful, but at least she knows that the Trenton gaze is now on Wesley Lake. Certainly Neptune Township should follow-up on all these recommendations.
For those that we contact, we will include links to every Blogfinger article in our archives about Wesley Lake. There are a number of issues that worry us.
It is encouraging to note that there are some State-level officials who care about citizen concerns and who would like to help us restore our lake to its historic functions of clean water, recreation and preservation.
WYNTON MARSALIS “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” From Finians Rainbow:
Thank you and Jack for your efforts!! This is great, but it’s a shame it has to take so much work for our Township to do the right thing.
Keep up the good work, gentlemen. Glocca Morra appreciates it.
Yes, it is critical to contact State officials to make them aware of the problem.
Experience with Trenton bureaucrats is their usual response: pass the buck back to the municipality responsible for the property, facility, service, etc.
For greater impact and applicable resources consider contacting the State office of the Sierra Club. It has an extremely successful record of dealing with environmental issues– large and small. The organization is particularly effective with its vast operational network impacting both legislative and departmental sources.
Viability knowledge of the local chapter in the our Monmouth County area
appears to be limited.