Toms River has a new mayor: Republican Dan Rodrick takes office
TOMS RIVER -- Republican Daniel Rodrick continued his rise in township politics when he was sworn in as Toms River's mayor Monday afternoon, six years after he first took a seat on the township council.
Rodrick, 47, was administered the oath of office for the four-year mayor's term by GOP state Sen. Jon Bramnick as his wife, Diana, held the Bible, and his children, Daniel and Samantha, looked on. A roomful of supporters gave him a standing ovation.
"I asked Sen. Jon Bramnick to swear me in today because he has a long record of bringing Republicans and Democrats together to solve complex problems," Rodrick said. "It's time to bring everyone together here in Toms River. We all want the same thing. Everyone wants to live in a town with safe streets, good schools and low property taxes. People moved to Toms River to get away from overcrowded cities. Residents are happy with the way Toms River is. We don't want to live in a city."
Rodrick, won on an anti-development platform along with his running mates, new council members Craig Coleman, Thomas Nivison and Lynn O'Toole. Coleman, O'Toole and Nivison were sworn in to four-year council terms, with the council selecting Coleman as council president and O'Toole as vice president.
More: Hello there! The Jersey Shore's first New Year babies born in 2024
"For the last eight years, the township has been rolling out the red carpet for developers," he said. "But when residents want to improve their property, they are tangled up in bureaucratic red tape. ...The special deals for politically connected developers ends today as well."
Keeping a campaign promise, Rodrick noted that the first item on the new council's agenda was repealing the controversial home inspection law, which Rodrick and Councilman Justin Lamb claimed was causing delays and difficulties with property sales. Rodrick said the ordinance as "jammed up over 2,000 homeowners," making it more expensive and time-consuming to sell their properties.
The council voted 4 to 2 to repeal the ordinance, with Councilmen David Ciccozzi and James Quinlisk voting against the repeal. Ciccozzi and Quinlisk later voted against an extensive consent agenda, a series of resolutions and appointments that is normally approved with one vote.
Both councilmen, allies of former Mayor Maurice B. "Mo" Hill Jr., said they had received the consent agenda too late to make informed decisions on many of the appointments. Among them were the appointment of former Lacey police Lt. Scott Tirella as township administrator, at a $165,000 annual salary.
Wendy Birkhead, formerly assistant township engineer, was appointed head of the engineering department (replacing Robert Chankalian), and Laura Picurro as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, replacing former Councilwoman Maria Maruca.
Political consultant Jon Salonis, a long-time Rodrick ally, was appointed Director of the Recreation Department, replacing Jared Tate. Salonis has been working as communications director for the Borough of Carteret.
Joseph Bilotta and Sam Ellenbogan were appointed to positions on the township's Municipal Utilities Authority, and Councilwoman O'Toole was appointed to the planning board.
More: Fire at Route 35 repair shop in Neptune burns building, cars
Perhaps the most significant change made Monday involved the Department of Public Works. Former Township Administrator Lou Amoruso had moved back to the public works director's job, saying he had tenure in the position under state law.
But an ordinance the council introduced Monday would shift public works from a separate department to a division under the direct supervision of the administrator, thereby likely eliminating the director's position.
Ciccozzi voted against that ordinance and Quinlisk abstained, with both complaining they had not received enough information about the change to make an informed decision.
"I got the ordinance, the whole package, about an hour before the meeting began," Quinlisk said. "I’m not quite sure what this thing entails either, I am just going to abstain on this until I get a better understanding. ... How can we vote on something that we have absolutely no information on?"
"I would like to know what the hell I am voting on and the consequences," Ciccozzi said. He also criticized the administration's plan to have only one public meeting a month.
Rodrick said he had called and sent texts to Ciccozzi and Quinlisk, and never heard back. "Both of you guys ignored calls for two weeks, you ignored it. Now you are creating a show for the public."
Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore noted that Rodrick and his slate won an "overwhelming" victory in November, winning all 63 of the township's election districts.
"The election is over," Gilmore said. "There is no sense in fighting with each other. You ought to try to work together for the best interests of the people of this town."
Rodrick moving to the mayor's job has left a vacancy on the council. The county GOP committee is expected to recommend three potential candidates for the post, and the council will then vote to appoint Rodrick's council replacement.
Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns. 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's new mayor takes charge: Dan Rodrick sworn in
