Downtown Revitalization, More Open Space: Toms River's 2023 Goals

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Township Council kicked off 2023 touting the town's accomplishments for 2022 and its goals for the new year, including ongoing efforts to protect open space in the township and continuing efforts to revitalize downtown.

The reorganization meeting featured Matthew Lotano being elected council president, with Kevin Geoghegan, who was president in 2022, chosen as vice president. Both were unanimous selections.

In addition, Michael C. Cruoglio was appointed as township clerk, after serving for several months temporarily in the position.

There was no conflict during the reorganization meeting, something that has been a feature at many council meetings over the last three years, since Maurice Hill was elected mayor and Lotano, Geoghegan and Joshua Kopp were elected to the council in 2019. While Daniel Rodrick and Justin Lamb (who was in attendance by phone) voted no on some resolutions, they did so without comment.

The focus was instead on what officials counted as the successes in 2022, including the groundbreaking on the new veterans health care clinic in Toms River, after years of work to address the inadequate capacity of the existing clinic in Brick.

Hill, who pushed hard for the clinic to be located in Toms River going back to when he was a councilman, said he has been notified the clinic will be named to honor Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, the World War II hero and Silver Star recipient whose actions at Normandy on D-Day saved countless lives.

Lotano said the movement forward on the downtown redevelopment project, including a $65 million mixed-use complex where the parking lot at Irons and Water Street sits, is long overdue and a positive step. He noted the township has negotiated an agreement with Community Medical Center to provide housing for resident physicians who come to do their residency at the hospital.

Phase 2 is anticipated to turn the rundown boatworks into a multimillion-dollar catering hall and restaurant facility "that's likely to be the nicest in the county," Lotano said. The property will be commercial only, no residential element, he said.

Hill said the town will continue to fight the proposed settlement between the state Department of Environmental Protection and BASF, which owns the former Ciba-Geigy site. The proposed settlement would turn 1,000 acres into open space, while allowing BASF to retain 250 acres for future development.

"We want them to turn over that 250 acres to Toms River," Hill said, as compensation to the town for the damage done to the township. Hill said BASF has reaped significant returns already, including the tax appeal that resulted in Toms River paying $17 million to BASF, along with the benefits of the solar field operating at the site.

It is customary, Hill said, for an entity operating a solar field to offer some of the power to the local government. That has not happened with BASF, he said.

The township protected 60 acres as open space in 2022, Hill and Lotano said.

Above all, Lotano said, the township is going to continue to prioritize fiscal responsibility. The town offers a long list of amenities and services, and has handled unfunded state mandates, without raising the municipal tax rate for the last two years, Lotano said.

"We've tackled this with sustainable solutions," he said.

Ocean County Republican Party chairman George Gilmore was in attendance at the meeting, but sat alone and did not speak to Hill or the other members of the new Republican Club in Toms River after the meeting.

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