Toms River CFO, engineering chief resign; mayor says predecessor is out to hurt him

Jean Mikle, Asbury Park Press
Updated ·3 min read

TOMS RIVER - Toms River's chief financial officer and head of engineering have both submitted their resignations, Mayor Daniel Rodrick has confirmed, leaving the township in a difficult position as municipal budget season looms.

Wendy A. Birkhead, who became head of engineering when Rodrick fired Robert J. Chankalian on Jan. 1, submitted her resignation last week, while CFO Judith Tutela submitted hers on Monday.

Rodrick said he had expected Tutela, who was hired in September 2021, to stay at least through budget season. The departures of Tutela and Birkhead mark the third and fourth department leaders to resign since Rodrick took over the mayor's office last month: Business Administrator Scott Tirella and Loring Dunton his assistant, resigned in late January.

Rodrick appointed Jon Salonis as business administrator after Tirella's departure.

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Toms River town hall
Toms River town hall

Rodrick said he believed politics were involved in the most recent resignations, noting both Tutela and Birkhead had worked for the administration of former Mayor Maurice B. "Mo" Hill Jr.. Rodrick defeated Hill and two other candidates in a bitterly contested GOP primary in June, and then won a resounding victory over Democrat Ben Giovine in November.

"I believe this is politically timed and motivated to hurt the administration prior to the convention," Rodrick said, referring to Thursday's Ocean County Republican convention. "I believe Mo Hill’s team will work to do anything to hang onto the county line."

Tutela and Birkhead could not be reached for comment yesterday.

He said that Democratic political consultant Mitch Seim — who Rodrick appointed to a $92,500 job in the finance department in January — would not be taking over as CFO. "He does not have certification," Rodrick said, referring to the municipal finance officers' certificate issued by the state Department of Community Affairs that CFOs are required to have.

He said it would take Seim too long to earn his certification and the township needs a CFO right away.

"I'll either contract it out, or we are going to attempt to hire somebody," Rodrick said of Tutela's job. "She is leaving us right in the middle of the budget. I believe it is politically motivated, but I do not believe it will be successful."

Rodrick defeated Hill and two other candidates in a bitterly contested GOP primary in June, and then won a resounding victory over Democrat Ben Giovine in November.

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Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick speaks during the Council meeting Wednesday, February 14, 2024, about the ordinance which cuts two captains' jobs and one patrol officer. The mayor said he has already eliminated the need for the council to vote on the ordinance by already making the changes in the department.
Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick speaks during the Council meeting Wednesday, February 14, 2024, about the ordinance which cuts two captains' jobs and one patrol officer. The mayor said he has already eliminated the need for the council to vote on the ordinance by already making the changes in the department.

At the GOP convention, the Toms River Regular Republican Club is expected to again challenge Republicans for Toms River in a vote to be designated the township's official GOP organization and control the party line on the ballot in a potential Republican primary. Toms River's Ward 2 council seat, held by Rodrick ally George Lobman, will be up for grabs in November.

Toms River Regular Republican Club was the township's official GOP organization for more than 30 years until it was replaced by the new club in 2021 following a bitter party feud.

Hill is a member of Republicans for Toms River and was endorsed by them in last year's primary, while Rodrick is a long-time member of the Toms River Regular Republicans, the club that has the backing of Ocean County GOP Chairman George R. Gilmore. Gilmore said Monday he expects the Regular Republicans to win the recertification vote on Thursday.

Hill responded to the new mayor's claims by describing Rodrick as "power-hungry," and saying he did not ask anyone in town hall to resign.

"He fired every department head that did not have a contract," Hill said, adding that Tutela was still under contract as she was hired less than three years ago.

Tirella made no comment about his resignation, but Dunton, in a Facebook post, said that during his time in town hall, he "witnessed a scorched earth campaign unlike anything I have ever seen."

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and has been writing about local government and politics at the Jersey Shore for nearly 39 years.  She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River CFO, engineering chief resign, mayor blames 'politics'