Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net

Mr. Ingato is a lawyer who is a year round resident of Ocean Grove.  Today he gave a talk and then took questions. The quality of the ZOOM sound was poor, but I was able to obtain information on a variety of beach issues.

a. Many beach questions  have been resolved through court cases and state (DEP) regulations, but some issues remain uncertain such as the Sunday morning beach closures in OG. Mr. Ingato went through some specific shore cases that have solved a variety of differences: Neptune City vs Avon,  Deal, Long Branch, and Wildwood.

b. One fact: The public can access any beach including private ones.

c. He presented a slide which shows who owns the beaches:

Slide by Mr. Ingato.  Note the beach portions OWNED BY THE STATE OF NJ (representing the public ownership)

d.  Tidelands are always under water. Wetlands are sometimes under water and others not.  Public beaches were first for fishing and navigation open to all; later for recreation.

Fees can be charged to get on a public beach, and everyone who goes gets charged the same fee—citizen or not.   Public Trust Doctrine can be changed over time, but always the beaches are open to everyone.

e. Even if there is a private club like the Deal Casino, that beach must be open to the public.

f. If the beach is replenished, all those additional dry sand areas are owned by the state.

g. The DEP is the ultimate regulator of beaches.

h. Fees must be used to cover costs such as lifeguards, and no profit may be made.

i. Some towns have citizens “beach advocacy” groups.

j. Badges are freely transferable from one person to another.

k. Regarding the concern about crosses on the badges, you can carry your badge onto the beach; just to show the badge checker. This solves that problem, so fuhgetaboutit. You could also place a sticker to cover the cross.

l. Sunday morning beach closures: Mr. Ingato believes that would  be disallowed if it went to court.  He said that he would take that case.  “An argument could be made.”   Mr. Badger should not be allowed to offer “special permission” as occurred with Ms. Valentine.

m.   Green Acres provides tax relief, eg to a beach or boardwalk, but the public rights have to be enforced.

n. The dunes in OG block  the view of the beach and ocean from the boardwalk.  Maybe they are too high.

Most of us  have noticed that the dunes have produced a significant lifestyle change in the experience of being on the boardwalk.  Perhaps the dunes could legally be lowered in height so we can see the beach life and the ocean while preserving the protection.

Mr. Ingato did a fine job in publicly wrestling with these difficult issues. It’s too bad that he didn’t offer ways to correct some beach problems that he discussed.

Also he didn’t mention the poor and disadvantaged who don’t come to our beach for financial reasons.  And how can the Groaners strategize to get rid of the Sunday morning beach ban?

Addendum:   At the end of the meeting the HOA President mentioned some events coming up. He especially talked about the next giant Chamber tourist mish mash.  But he failed to mention that two June events are being sponsored by OG residents–these are  the sorts of events  that the HOA should encourage and support, but they don’t:   The Art on the Porches and the Town-Wide Yard Sale.  This is our 12th year doing the Town-Wide Yard Sale, run by we the people, and the Groaners never offer any help or encouragement. But here they are patting the Chamber on the head.

Why is the HOA so tight with the Chamber and the Township?   It needs to recognigze and focus on the largest factions in town:   The secular residential and the OG Underground youth movement.  How many young people were at this Groaner meeting and where do the renters go to be represented?   The entire leadership of the HOA should be overthrown in a coup and replaced by citizens under the age of 50. They should have a new name and a new vision, and renters should immediately be given membership.

Mr Ingato mentioned “advocacy groups.”   We need some of those here  to represent new ideas. The Groaners are old news. Besides all talk, what exactly have they accomplished lately for the people of the Grove?  They are ineffective as exemplified by today’s meeting.

REGGIE PAUL.   “Shake Señora.”