TOMS RIVER – Fireworks and concerts at Shelter Cove have been popular with residents in that area, but have become part of ongoing discourse at Township Council meetings.
At the most recent meeting, the Council had to pass a resolution to request a permit for fireworks scheduled for July 24, August 7 (the night of the meeting), August 14, and August 21 at Shelter Cove.
Mayor Daniel Rodrick said all this does is authorize the town to get permits. There was enough money set aside for the free events.
Councilman James Quinlisk, who frequently criticizes the current administration, said that a council meeting on July 24 was cancelled because not enough council members were available. Through this conversation, it was learned that Councilmen Joseph Lamb and George Lobman were at the fireworks that night instead.
A Bayville resident in attendance noted that Berkeley holds a Mayor’s Golf Outing that pays a lot of the cost of the concerts and fireworks.
Council President Craig Coleman said he’d look into it.
Councilwoman Lynn O’Toole said that she and her running mates wanted to lower taxes, conserve land and have no new bills. “We’re trying to keep the costs down.”
Quinlisk noted that the budget did go up.
The 2024 budget is $142,783,275.18. It is an increase of $1,913,128.48 from last year’s $140,870,146.70.
The amount to be raised by taxes will be $89,377,095.38. It is an increase of $378,850.23 from last year’s $88,998,245.15.
The tax rate, however, stayed the same, meaning that residents are paying the same this year as last year for their municipal taxes.
“We’re spending money on concerts and fireworks to distract people,” Quinlisk said.
New Clerk
Planning Board member Stephen Hensel was appointed as the Township Clerk.
Councilman James Quinlisk voted no on Hensel’s appointment. “Nothing personal, but you are not qualified.”
Mayor Rodrick said that most clerks take the courses to train after taking the position.
Councilman David Ciccozzi abstained. The rest of the council voted for him.
Toms River Town Hall (Photo by Jason Allentoff)
School Board Struggle
Meanwhile, another tax struggle is going on in Toms River. The school board is suing the state for more funding.
Jennifer Howe, a Board of Education member, said she spoke on her own behalf, asking members of the governing body to help the district in their fight against the state, which has cut millions in funding. She asked them to contact lawmakers and other people in Trenton.
Councilman Lobman said that their efforts would not matter because the Democrat-controlled state wouldn’t help a Republican town.
Council President Coleman thought that advocating for the district was a good idea.
Mayor Rodrick suggested creating a kind of commercial PILOT program.
PILOT stands for payment in lieu of taxes. It’s a way to incentivize developers by charging them less than what they normally would pay in taxes.
His suggestion was to see if there was a way to bring in commercial development – rather than residential – and have the money go directly to the school system. The example he gave would be revitalizing a strip mall.
Transparency Requested
Resident Paul Williams was one of many residents who have been criticizing the lack of public interaction this year. The council meetings allow for shorter time for public comment, and the meetings have been scheduled erratically. He also noted how the agenda is posted online very late into the process so people don’t have time to look up what is going on.
“You’re not getting any input from us about the things that matter to us,” he said.
He took issue with the fact that some things were voted on before they were explained to the people in attendance. He said each item should be elaborated on so that people know what is going on in their town.
Resident Anthony Devecka also talked about a lack of transparency. “You told me point blank ‘we’re not closing the animal shelter,’” he said to the mayor.
He criticized the amount of cuts that the town has made. “If things get more expensive, you can’t just cut things. A lot of people live here because it’s a good town.”
Resident Julie Adamek said that the lack of transparency extends to council members who don’t know what’s on the agenda before they arrive.
“The council members are coming in cold and are asked to vote on things they know nothing about,” she said.
Later in the meeting, Coleman announced at 5:48 p.m. that he would cut off the public comment period at 6 p.m. The meeting had started at 3:30 p.m.
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