Councilmen Demand Controversial Toms River Police Vote To Be In-Person

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two Toms River councilmen "vehemently oppose" the township's choice to hold the next council meeting virtually, saying decisions about reduction in police staffing should be held in-person for transparency's sake.

The township decided to move the Jan. 31 meeting to Zoom, instead of holding the meeting in-person. The virtual meeting will include a second reading and final vote on a controversial ordinance that would eliminate two captains' positions, a police officer, and the media relations position from the police department roster.

Mayor Dan Rodrick has said the removal of the positions is needed to fund the addition of eight community service officers to increase the town's ability to respond to medical emergencies.

In a letter to Council President Craig Coleman, 3rd Ward Councilman Jim Quinlisk and 4th Ward Councilman David Ciccozzi said the decision to move the meeting to Zoom undermines the intent of the state's Open Public Meetings Act.

Ciccozzi and Quinlisk both voted against the ordinance when it was introduced at a special meeting on Jan. 18, both receiving resounding applause from the police officers present. They said they "strongly object" to the decision to make the next one virtual, saying transparency is "the cornerstone of good government."

"A virtual meeting limits the public's right to be present, participate, and observe the meeting," they wrote in their letter to Coleman, which was also sent to Rodrick and other council members, as well as the township attorney. "We respectfully request that the meeting be held in person at an appropriate venue to ensure transparency in government."

Earlier this week, Coleman said the change is the result of what was anticipated to be a very large crowd at the meeting that had the potential to exceed the meeting room capacity.

In the past, meetings that were expected to draw large crowds have been held in the auditorium at Toms River High School North, which holds about 1,200 people. In December 2015, the auditorium accommodated nearly 1,000 people for the Toms River Board of Adjustment hearing on the Chabad proposal for Church Road.

The RWJ Barnabas Health Arena, at Toms River North, can accommodate 3,500 people.

Transparency was a persistent complaint of Rodrick and Councilman Justin Lamb while Maurice "Mo" Hill was mayor over items they opposed. Council agendas while Hill was in office typically were available to the public at least a day before the meetings. Last-minute changes usually involved the removal of an item.

The agenda with the ordinances introduced at the Jan. 18 meeting was posted two hours before that meeting.

Related article:

• Plan To Cut Police Positions Sparks Outrage In Toms River
• Toms River Council Moves Jan. 31 Meeting To Zoom

Patch's Karen Wall contributed to this article.