Failed Bond Ordinance Vote In Toms River: What's In $14.7M Package

TOMS RIVER, NJ — An ordinance to fund $14.7 million in capital improvements failed on second reading at the Toms River Township Council meeting last week.

The failed vote — the ordinance required a supermajority of five yes votes to pass — sparked a political argument on the dais over what is in the ordinance, that would have bonded for $13.9 million to pay for the improvements.

Councilmen Justin Lamb and Dan Rodrick voted against the ordinance, while Council President Matthew Lotano, Josh Kopp, Kevin Geoghegan, and James Quinlisk voted in favor, for a 4-2 vote. Councilman David Cicozzi was absent.

Lamb and Rodrick said they voted against the ordinance because it would fund road improvements tied to the downtown redevelopment plans that would build 285 apartments in a 10-story building at the site of the former Red Carpet Inn.

That plan has been opposed by residents who are concerned about added traffic in the area and are upset about the potentially dramatic change to the downtown area.

Lotano and Geoghegan said at the meeting that the ordinance, which was introduced March 22, included far more than the funding for the downtown road improvement project.

Here's a look at what was included, the potential impact and what's next.

The failed ordinance included $2.95 million in funding for paving various roads in the township, and an additional $950,000 for drainage and bulkhead work. There was $2,789,610 included for road elevation to help alleviate persistent street flooding in some areas of the township.

There is $1.5 million included for the downtown loop project, which would be Toms River's share of the project, which would be funded primarily by a $5.6 million federal grant.

Also included in the failed ordinance were purchases of a F450 Dump Truck for the buildings and grounds department at $80,000; three robo garbage trucks for public works totaling $1.2 million; a flail mower ($200,000), a street sweeper ($260,000), a roll-off truck ($260,000), a 524 wheel loader ($250,000), a tandem ($300,000), 2 F250 pickup trucks ($140,000) and F150 pickups ($180,000), all for the public works department.

There were several pieces of equipment for the buildings and grounds department as well, with the entire list of vehicles and equipment totaling more than $3.3 million.

Another $1.2 million in the package would have funded 10 police vehicles with their specialized outfitting, and an ambulance and related equipment.

The remaining $1.88 million was directed at "Tide Creek Stream Cleaning," at a cost of $150,000, and improvements to the police department and at the public works department.

Lamb said he voted no, saying "the majority" of the bond ordinance was directed at the downtown loop project. Rodrick did not comment at the time he voted no.

Mayor Maurice Hill blasted Lamb and Rodrick, calling their no votes "political grandstanding". Rodrick is one of three Republican candidates opposing Hill in the campaign for mayor, along with Geri Ambrosio and Robert Bianchini.

Lamb said he voted no because "the majority" of the package was for the downtown loop, and Rodrick voted no without comment during the ordinance discussion.

Hill said the no votes will have a significant impact, particularly on the paving projects.

"We lost the prime months of April and May for road improvements," Hill said. "Fuel prices always rise in the summer and oil prices are on the rise again which increases the cost of asphalt. We may not be able to repair all the roads we planned to fix this year."

"Rodrick and Lamb have really hurt the taxpayers with this stunt," he said.

The failed ordinance also puts the federal grant for the downtown loop at risk, as Toms River must pay for a portion of the project.

The project has been hotly opposed since it was first presented in 2021.

Hill said he will ask the council to introduce a new ordinance to address the items.