Special Toms River Council Meeting Set To Finalize Repeal Of Police Job Cuts Ordinance

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Township Council is set to finalize its repeal of the February ordinance that eliminated two captains and a patrol officer from the police department roster on April 11.

A legal notice published Thursday in the Asbury Park Press announced the plan for the public hearing and second vote on the ordinance at a special meeting that is set for 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 in the L. Manuel Hirshblond Meeting Room at town hall, 33 Washington St.

The township also has a meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment at 6:30 p.m. on April 11 in the Hirshblond room.

The special meeting itself has not yet been advertised, and as of 1 p.m. Thursday, April 4, it was not listed on the Toms River Township website.

It is not known what else will be on the agenda of the April 11 special meeting because nothing else has been announced.

One item that is not anticipated to be on the agenda: The lease of the Toms River animal shelter to Ocean County. That ordinance is scheduled for a second hearing and vote at the Wednesday, April 24 council meeting, according to a public notice published Tuesday, April 2.

The council approved the initial ordinance that removed two captains' positions, a patrol officer and the media relations position at its Feb. 14 special meeting. Council members Justin Lamb, George Lobman, Tom Nivison, Council Vice President Lynn O'Toole, and Council President Craig Coleman voted in favor, and councilmen James Quinlisk and David Ciccozzi voted against. Read more: Toms River Council OKs Controversial Police Staffing Ordinance

A recall petition seeking to overturn the ordinance, which garnered more than 5,000 signatures, was certified by Toms River Township Clerk Michael Cruoglio. Cruoglio reported to the council on March 27 that he had reviewed each signature on the petition — more than 530 pages — and found the petition had signatures from more than 3,079 registered voters, the number required for it to be certified.

The certification meant the council had 20 days to take action to repeal the ordinance. According to the legal ad, if the council is unable to meet April 11, a special meeting will be held at 5 p.m. April 16 to act on the ordinance.

At the March 27 council meeting, Mayor Daniel Rodrick said the town could have fought the petition, claiming there were numerous issues that could be challenged, but said the council would repeal the ordinance instead of spending money on legal fees.

Rodrick repeated his stance that he didn't need the council's action to move forward with his plan to use the estimated $700,000 in salary and benefits costs to fund the hiring of new emergency medical technicians.

"I am not backfilling these two captains' positions," Rodrick said. "With or without this ordinance the captains are not coming back."

He said the town had reached an agreement with the union representing EMTs to increase the salaries to $30 per hour for full-time and to $35 per hour for part-time EMTs, without benefits.

The text of the two public notices is below, as published in the Asbury Park Press:

Police ordinance repeal

TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP NOTICE

ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL, TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER, OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 4792-24 OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER TITLED “AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING §§50-3B, 50-3G, AND 50-3R OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE TO REVISE THE ROSTER OF POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT”

PURPOSE: REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 4792-24 OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER TITLED “AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING §§50-3B, 50-3G, AND 50-3R OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE TO REVISE THE ROSTER OF POSITIONSWITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT”

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ordinance published herewith was introduced and passed upon first reading at a meeting of the Township Council of the Township of Toms River, in the County of Ocean, New Jersey, held on March 27, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. It will be further considered for final passage at a public meeting to be held in the L. Manuel Hirshblond Meeting Room of the Municipal Building in said Township on April 11, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as this matter can be reached, at which time all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to be heard concerning this ordinance. Please take notice that should an unforeseen circumstance arise and the meeting scheduled for April 11, 2024 be cancelled or adjourned, the ordinance will be considered for a final passage on April 16, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as this matter can be reached. Prior to the second reading, a copy of this ordinance shall be posted on the bulletin board in the Municipal Building and copies shall be made available at the Township Clerk’s Office in said Municipal Building to members of the general public who shall request such copies.

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

PETER S. PASCARELLA
ASSISTANT TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY

Animal shelter lease ordinance

TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP NOTICE

ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER, COUNTY OF OCEAN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE TOWNSHIP CLERK TO ATTEST TO A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER AND THE OCEAN COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH AUTHORIZING THE LEASING OF CERTAIN MUNICIPAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A. 40A:12-14(B)

PURPOSE: AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE TOWNSHIP CLERK TO ATTEST TO A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER AND THE OCEAN COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH AUTHORIZING THE LEASING OF CERTAIN MUNICIPAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A. 40A:12-14(B)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ordinance published herewith was introduced and passed upon first reading at a meeting of the Township Council of the Township of Toms River, in the County of Ocean, New Jersey, held on March 27, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. It will be further considered for final passage at a public meeting to be held in the L. Manuel Hirshblond Meeting Room of the Municipal Building in said Township on April 24, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as this matter can be reached, at which time all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to be heard concerning this ordinance. Prior to the second reading, a copy of this ordinance shall be posted on the bulletin board in the Municipal Building and copies shall be made available at the Township Clerk’s Office in said Municipal Building to members of the general public who shall request such copies.

MICHAEL CRUOGLIO
MUNICIPAL CLERK

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

PETER S. PASCARELLA
ASSISTANT TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
33 WASHINGTON STREET
TOMS RIVER, N.J. 08753
L-March 27, 2024-19-NOTICE
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