TOMS RIVER – Republicans took complete management of Toms River’s Township Council Monday as GOP newcomers David Ciccozzi, Justin Lamb and James Quinlisk had been sworn in to four-year phrases on the governing physique.
Additionally sworn in was Republican Councilman Daniel Rodrick, who shall be serving his second time period.
Councilman Kevin M. Geoghegan was chosen council president for the second straight yr; Rodrick and Lamb voted “no” on Geoghegan’s appointment, nevertheless it was supported by the opposite 5 councilmen. Councilman Matt Lotano was unanimously chosen as council vice chairman.
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“I’m honored to be right here,” stated Ciccozzi, a businessman who served as chairman of the township’s planning board for a number of years. He defeated Councilman Terrance Turnbach, a Democrat, in November and can signify Ward 4. ” I’m going to offer 100% on a regular basis. If anyone wants assist, attain out to me.”
Lamb, a lawyer and Lavallette police sergeant, defeated long-time GOP Councilwoman Maria Maruca within the June Republican major before defeating Democrat Michele Williams in November. He praised Maruca for her 18 years of service on the council, and in addition praised his working mate and good friend, Ward 2 Councilman Rodrick, for his “conservative imaginative and prescient.”
Lamb stated he plans to “work onerous to regulate the unbridled progress in authorities that I consider that this township has grow to be accustomed to for too lengthy.”
Quinlisk, who will signify Ward 3, is a gross sales supervisor who installs lifts and ramps for folks with mobility points and in addition a volunteer firefighter who serves as a member of fireplace district 2’s board of commissioners.
“I hope to come back right here and promote the agenda that Toms River must grow to be a greater city and proceed to develop,” Quinlisk stated.
Rodrick stated he plans to “proceed proceed our struggle in opposition to overdevelopment, corruption and better taxes.” He praised his working mate Lamb’s persistence: Lamb misplaced a GOP major for the Ward 1 seat in 2017, and was a part of an unsuccessful slate of candidates that ran with Rodrick in 2019, when Rodrick made a bid for the mayor’s seat.
“Justin’s onerous work and willpower, his dedication for doing what’s proper for Toms River, lastly received over the voters of Toms River,” Rodrick stated. Rodrick additionally congratulated his working mate; on New 12 months’s Day, Lamb and his fiancée, Toms River Regional college board member Ashley Palmiere, had been married.
Watch the council members take their oaths of workplace within the video above.
Toms River’s GOP remains divided. Rodrick and Lamb ran as a two-person ticket within the normal election; they had been supported by the Toms River Common Republican Membership, which for 35 years was acknowledged because the township’s official GOP group.
However in March, the county’s Republican group voted to strip the membership of its credentials, in favor of a brand new group, Republicans for Toms River. The brand new membership endorsed Ciccozzi and Quinlisk and is supported by Mayor Maurice B. “Mo” Hill Jr., Council President Geoghegan, Vice President Lotano and Councilman Josh Kopp.
Rodrick now has an ally on the council; he was usually at odds with each Republicans and Democrats on the governing physique up to now 4 years.
Rodrick has been censured and requested to resign thrice by his fellow council members; in every occasion Rodrick stated he was being focused for political causes. Rodrick has been strongly essential of the Mayor Hill’s administration, particularly the appointment of GOP Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin as township attorney.
McGuckin swore in Quinlisk and Ciccozzi on Monday, whereas Rodrick was sworn in by Toms River lawyer Peter Pascarella and Lamb was sworn in by his father, Robert, a long-time Lavallette councilman who’s a retired borough police officer.
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Talking Monday about plans for the approaching yr, Kopp stated he hopes to determine a committee that might “oversee small enterprise progress” in Toms River, and want to begin a façade grant program to assist enhance the looks of companies. A further grant program Kopp proposed would help small companies which might be struggling as a result of ongoing pandemic.
Lotano stated he’d prefer to see the township enhance communication this yr. He stated he believes a November referendum that requested if the open area tax needs to be elevated was defeated partially as a result of residents didn’t perceive it. He additionally pointed to ongoing points with considerably broken properties as marking one other space the place the township ought to do a greater job speaking with property homeowners.
Mayor Hill stated he’s trying ahead to the planned groundbreaking for the new Veterans Administration clinic in Toms River this yr, as well as the start of construction for two, 10-story apartment towers recently accredited for the downtown.
“I stay up for working with all of the folks on the council for the nice of the residents,” Hill stated.
Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other different Ocean County cities, and has been writing about native authorities and politics on the Jersey Shore for almost 37 years. A finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in public service, she’s additionally passionate concerning the Shore’s storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, [email protected].
Source: Asbury Park
