Budget Adoption, Police Hiring Ordinance Set For Toms River Council Meeting

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Township Council is scheduled to formally adopt the municipal budget for 2025 when it meets Monday afternoon.

The council meeting, set for 4 p.m., was rescheduled to Monday from June 25. In addition to the budget adoption, the council also is scheduled to consider the introduction of an ordinance that will change the police hiring practices, according to the agenda that was available online on Sunday.

The full ordinance was not available Sunday night, but Mayor Daniel Rodrick said in early June that he wanted changes to Toms River's police hiring guidelines because, he said, they do not allow the township to replace officers until one actually retires.

The police department's staffing of full-time sworn officers has fallen to its lowest level in more than 20 years, with officers retiring and leaving the department, and replacement hires slow to be brought on board. Read more: Toms River Police Staffing Hits A 21-Year Low As Mayor Touts Flat Taxes

Also on the agenda are the promotion of an officer to sergeant and the appointment of acting municipal clerk Stephen Hensel to a three=year term as clerk.

The meeting is set for 4 p.m. in the L. Manuel Hirschblond meeting room on the second floor.