4 Members of the Neptune Committee at the OG Parking Workshop. Blogfinger photo. Left to right: Mayor Cafferty, York, Lane, Williams. Images from the Neptune filming streaming onto their web site.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net. 2/27/23.
Last night at the Township Committee Parking Workshop (2/27/23) the proposed permit parking pilot plan was rejected. 4 committeemen were present. M. Brantley had to leave. The Mayor called on Committeeman York ** who said “Yes” without comment.
He then allowed Committeemen Lane and Williams to speak, and they said, “No”. Brantley left his “No” in writing. And the Mayor rejected the proposal.
Mr. Lane made a short speech in which he said that he received many emails, and most residents were against the plan. He decided that the plan was unfair, but he failed to consider the plight of we-the-people who are residents and taxpayers in town and should be shown some preference in parking. He was worried about our town as a “tourist area–open to all,” but he forgot to remember that OG is a residential area predominantly.
Lane’s description of his email tally should not have been presented since it is a worthless poll.
The regular 7 pm Committee meeting was cancelled. Too many people in the room. A crowd from Shark River Hils showed up. Why? The OG contingent seemed happy that the show was cancelled. Why? The officer was counting people and discussing cancellation with the Mayor.
We spoke to the Township Clerk Gabriella Siboni this morning by phone. She said that this was not an actual vote. But really, it is a vote, although an unofficial one. However, the Committee will not pursue an ordinance. She said nothing to me about cancelling the main meeting.
It seems that the Committee is afraid that the plan would disenfranchise too many people from finding parking including visitors. They are hiding behind the word “democratic.”
Committeeman Lane had the most to say, and I noticed that he and others barely used the word “resident.” They seem to believe that we-the-people who are residents should not receive any parking advantage and that we are equal to all the tourists in town.
What they miss is that the plan would not reduce the total number of spaces available for anyone looking for a space in a difficult parking situation. After all, our residents now require a place to park. So the plan, although giving residents an edge to park near their home, will not reduce the total number of available spaces around town. It may cause non-residents to look and walk longer.
It is a disgrace that this Committee will not offer a preference to residents. It shows how little they think of Ocean Grove’s citizens other than sources of tax dollars. The idea that they are protecting parking for everyone, although superficially a democratic notion, is actually nonsense. They don’t have to worry about everyone who drives into town–they are supposed to worry about we-the-people of Ocean Grove.
I might add that the new Clerk Ms. Siboni was reluctant during our phone call to have a conversation with me about what happened, however “wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles,”* she educated me to the fact that anyone can go to Neptunetownship.org and listen to a recording of this Workshop session. I didn’t know that, and it is a beautiful thing! Check it out:,
Comments are welcome here. Just sent us an email or use the comment button below; Blogfinger@verizon.net
**We stand corrected regarding the “Yes” vote of the Deputy Mayor York. She chaired the group which came up with this plan
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: *
The whole point of the North End Redevelopment is to generate revenue. A free parking lot that would be unused much of the year would not meet this end. The beach plot, the former site of the burned pavilion and food court, is currently for sale.
Broadway did not get its grass islands until about 1909. The two nearest the beach were reduced in width to allow parking on their northern sides c. 1920s.
Seriously though – why don’t they just make the north end a parking lot?
And would they consider making the grass island that runs the length of Broadway into diagonal parking? I’m sure that the residents who live along Broadway wouldn’t
like it (neither would I) but it would help a bit…
My understanding is that at the Township Workshop meeting last night, the TC voted ‘no’, but a slew of supporters for the Parking Permit Pilot Program, mostly from Shark River Hills, showed up after the vote, and filled the room so the regular Township Committee meeting had to be postponed, because there was over 125 people.
People do care about each other. This is awesome. (The question is, does the Township Committee care?)
Editor’s note to Ann:
Ann is referring to the regular 7 pm Committee meeting. Unfortunately, no one got their chance to get up for their 3 minutes at the microphone.
When the Mayor decided to cancel the regular meeting, there was happy applause for that decision by the parking plan supporters. Why is that?
Where are those Shark River folks coming from with their support for permit parking? Do they have a parking situation in the Hills? Maybe some Hills residents will contact us here. Blogfinger@verizon.net
The Workshop decision not to pursue an ordinance still applies. At least the Clerk did not say anything to me about nullifying the Workshop decision.
Thank you for the correction re the ‘Yes” vote of Committeeman York. We have corrected the post. PG
It’s not true that we didn’t learn the opinion of Committeewoman York
.
She was the first person asked for her opinion by the mayor. Please note, this is the opposite of what the Mayors usually do, which is start at the end with Nick Williams, and work his way center towards himself.
He did this to set up Committeewoman York. She did not have a prepared statement like the rest of the council.