By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
In order to be a voting member of the Ocean Grove Home Owners Association, you have to be a deed holder on an OG house. If a couple lives in a home here, but only one has their name on the deed, then they only get one vote. If both are on the deed, you get two votes but you only pay one $10.00 dues. If someone owns more than one house, they still get one vote. Renters cannot belong, but everyone is welcome at the meetings. These rules go way back, and there are no plans to revise them, but the new leaders of the OGHOA do have some fundamental changes in mind for the organization.
In an interview on August 21, 2012, we spoke with the new president Ann Horan and with the new vice president Barbara Burns. Both of these leaders have been members of the OGHOA board, but now that they are in leadership positions, they hope to implement some new ideas.
Ann Horan (r) and Barbara Burns of the OGHOA. PG photo
It turns out that there are 635 voting members of the organization for 2012. According to former president Denis McCarthy, there are about 900 voters with paid dues at least during one of the last two years. Both Ms. Horan and Ms. Burns spoke of their plans to increase membership. They believe that the OGHOA has the potential to be a strong advocate for homeowners in town and these new officials want the group to be as “formidable” as possible. Activism will be their style for the future.
Pres. Horan stressed that they will be more responsive to the membership. She wants to “listen to all opinions.” According to the new president, the group needs to focus on critical issues such as the North End situation, Broadway flooding and derelict housing. She wants current and future committees to get actively involved in their issues and to report back to the membership.
Ms. Horan cited the derelict housing matter which, so far, no OG organization has honed in on. A new committee will be formed to concentrate on certain properties and make sure that problem houses get corrected. Charles Layton of Blogfinger has been a pioneer in this effort, and he will provide this committee with needed information.
Ms. Burns spoke about how she and Ms. Horan will be “regulars” at the Neptune Township Committee meetings and how they will report on local government to the membership. Ms. Burns said that the OGHOA needs to understand how local government operates and how it affects the lives of Ocean Grovers. Educating the members will be one of their goals.
Both women want the organization to become more aggressive in its efforts. They want to overcome “negative perceptions from the past” and to encourage more homeowners to get involved in the group’s activities. New members will find the current leadership to be “open” to their concerns.
Other goals include improving the web site, growing the email list, making Broadway more attractive as a gateway into town (“It’s a first impression.”), and working with other town organizations for common goals.
As for the meetings, they might consider returning to the Paul Dunlap method of doing business first and guest speakers later. Both Ms. Horan and Ms. Burns agreed that they need to educate themselves as they consider the challenges of their new volunteer jobs. Undoubtedly, everyone in the Grove will wish them well.
Reference: Link to BF article about the new officers link to new officers