Ocean Grove north end boardwalk. October 30, 2012–the day after Sandy. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
The Ocean Grove Homeowners Association recently sent letters out to their members asking them to renew their dues at $10.00 per year per “household.” The letter contains a summary of their “accomplishments” in 2014.
But, if the members are to decide if they will get their money’s worth, they must consider not what the OGHOA did in terms of meetings, wheel spinning, touring derelict houses, misleading the public in the Coaster, and other nonproductive activities, but rather what have they actually done that has made a substantial difference?
They say that that their goal is “the maintenance and enhancement of property values in Ocean Grove.” Really? So have they achieved that goal? We will look at their “accomplishments” in a series of Blogfinger posts and let you comment.
Let’s begin with The North End Committee report: Anne Horan, the President of HOA said, “Last year the restoration of 4 Boardwalk, the building near the north end of OG, was halted as a direct result of the North End Committee’s information to the Township that the builder did not obtain the required permits.”
Is it the job of the OGHOA to police the town and look for builders or homeowners who are doing construction without permits? The Code Enforcement officers used to patrol the Grove and take pictures—-sort of like a junior secret police. Then they would pounce if you had peeling paint, the wrong retaining wall, or plants that were too high. But there was a public outcry, and they stopped doing that spying. The citizens spoke.
So now, the OGHOA has taken upon itself the job of junior secret police. Was it their job to complain to the Township about a building owner who is trying to bring his property back from the Sandy destruction? Are we better off now that the work has been halted?
Do we want our HOA to be patrolling around the Grove watching for derelict construction permits? Where will they take this task next? Will our HOA neighbors be watching us if we put up a fence or the wrong window replacement? Is this Pogo redux: “We have met the enemy and he is us!”
OGHOA members should demand that the Board of Trustees stick to their mission and not become enforcers for the Township.
What do you think? Do you say “hello” or do you say “goodbye?”
THE BEATLES