2018. Ocean Grove shoveler. Moe Demby photo. Blogfinger.net
Read the comments and Editor’s note below.
Yesterday,(1/18/24) the OG HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. sent a memo to its members saying ,”Residents are reminded that the Township Committee has passed and will enforce an ordinance requiring all Township residents to keep sidewalks abutting their property clear of snow and ice. The ordinance requires that snow and ice be removed within 12 daylight hours of a snowfall.”
It goes on to say that summonses will be issued to those who do not comply, as was done last winter. The OGHOA also warned those who are away when there is a snowstorm to make “arrangements for snow removal.” This is a big issue because so many OG houses are vacant much of the time in the winter.
This 2024 HOA memo makes it sound like the ordinance was just passed earlier this year. However, ordinance 13-2 was actually written in 1988 and it has never been changed. It’s not clear that it, like some other ordinances in town, was ever enforced in the past. The law also says that if you do not comply, the Township will do the work for you and then slap a lien onto your property tax bill.
Rick Cuttrell, the Township Clerk, was less rigid about the possible enforcement of this law, especially given all the logistical problems that would occur. He said, “If you don’t do it, you are at risk.”
He said that last year there was a complaint by Ocean Grover Ken Buckley of Broadway who slipped on some sidewalk ice and nearly had a terrible injury. Ken asked for better enforcement of the ordinance for safety reasons, and the Township Committee promised to do just that.
Cuttrell reminisced about how he and others who grew up in the Grove went around town to shovel walks. But these days, that is an uncertain proposition. He said that the hardware store in town has a list of properties that they take responsiblity for.
Whenever there is a significant snowfall or ice storm in Ocean Grove, the NTPD usually has its hands full with traffic problems, downed lines and accidents. And the Township usually is overwhelmed by trying to plow and clear the streets, much less the sidewalks. Also, to “clear the ice away” is impossible in freezing weather. The best that can be done for ice is to sprinkle ice melt on it.
It’s hard to imagine how this ordinance can be enforced predictably and equally, so there may be some issues of equal justice under the law.
In addition there are some questions having to do with signage and moving cars to the correct side. Remember, there is to be no parking on the north and west sides of our streets, some of which have signs, while others do not. But regardless of signs, this rule is supposed to be followed. Then how will the towing be handled?
As for the Home Groaners Association, it was so nice of them to send that one paragraph warning around. But have they given any thought to the problems inherent to this situation and all its ramifications? Maybe their next meeting should be about this problem, taxes, winter crime, solutions to flooding, etc instead of worrying about health insurance.
NOTE: OG HARDWARE IS NOT SHOVELING SNOW THIS YEAR. (2025) Their decision relates to insurance concerns. Maybe an ambitious teen will come by, as I and my friends did when we were kids, but now, don’t hold your breath. PG
Update Feb, 1, 2025: The “Ocean Grove Home Groaners Association,” now known as the “OG Community Association” had a meeting last week and officially announced that “un-shoveled sidewalks should be reported to the Neptune Township Code Enforcement department.” And they offered the phone number of the Code department.
But Blogfinger will consider that Code number to be “classified” to keep those misanthropes, ie those HOA blabbermouths, from reporting on their neighbors.
And to add insult to injury, they proudly proclaim that “The mission of the Ocean Grove Community Association is to enhance the quality of life in Ocean Grove.”
To show us how out of touch the “Community Association” is, they think that they can improve the quality of life among We-the -People by squealing on each other. They advocate that we rat on our neighbors; that we turn in our friends; that we tattle on fellow Grovers; and perhaps we should call them informers, whistle blowers or stool pigeons.
And if charged will the accused be fined? What do you think? And will reporting our neighbors to the authorities result in a cleared sidewalk?
Why would anyone want to associate with an association that is clueless like that? Do they want to incite anger; do they want their neighbors to grab their pitchforks and march on the Mother Ship? Is this how they plan to “enhance quality of life?”
In the past it was hard to find a shoveler. When I was a kid my friends and I used to travel around the hood and make a few bucks”. But such teen workers are rare.
2026 “Shovelers’ Tales.” Update:
We had some adventures regarding shoveling. You can join the fun by sending an anecdote to us. Blogfinger@verizon.net
a. Now people are advertising on NextDoor: Either shovelers or folks needing to be shoveled. But there are a variety of shoveler themes, so beware of schemers.
b. One guy in Asbury Park is looking for work on Next Door. So he made an appointment with a Grover along with an agreed price. An hour before he was due to arrive, he texted that he will be on time. But later he never showed up. Meanwhile an actual shoveler showed up but was turned away.
c. A Grover started a business providing shovelers. But it was oversubscribed and had to cancel some jobs .
d. Two young men from Spring Lakes placed ads, made an appt. for the next day, showed up exactly on time and did a great job.
e. Cost: You can make a deal over the phone, but when the shoveler shows up, he may look at the job and raise the price. Typical: $50-$150.00. Remember, the job gets more expensive if melting snow becomes hard as rocks as the temperatures drop.
f. Share your shoveling experience: Send us an anecdote to. Blogfinger@verizon.net