TOMS RIVER, NJ – Former Toms River Mayor Mark Mutter and others requested that a public summit be held at town hall during a public township council meeting, and political allies of Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill vehemently blocked that request.
Councilman Justin Lamb, siding with residents asking for public transparency after Mayor Hill announced the downtown village would indeed become a small city, called for a public hearing at the next township council meeting.
Former Mayor Mutter requested a public hearing after council members admitted they had discussed the project in private meetings without public input in recent months. Mutter cited Mayor Hill’s Redevelopment Plan’s efficiency study that called for a public hearing on a strategic plan for downtown redevelopment.
“We now four years from 2020,” Mutter said. “There is no strategic plan. These developments are being done one at a time, resolution by resolution. There should be a comprehensive discussion in public, not in an internal meeting, regarding redevelopment. The future of our town is at stake.”
Councilman Dan Rodrick responded to Mutter, saying that Toms River Mayor Hill’s intent on downtown development was clear.
“I don’t support these projects. I don’t support these apartments,” Rodrick said. “I would support having another summit, but frankly, if you want to stop the apartments, I think we have to elect a new mayor and council. That’s the mayor’s plan.”
Rodrick then referred to a Toms River Shorebeat interview with Mayor Maurice Hill defending his plan for the township to “go vertical” and to expect more hi-rise towers in Toms River.
“Any town that has gone through redevelopment has gone vertical,” Hill said during the interview.
“It’s pretty clear what the plan is,” Rodrick added. “I hope a summit can change the mayor’s mind, but I doubt it.”
Councilman Justin Lamb proposed holding a public summit on April 26 at the next town council meeting.
Council President Matt Lotano objected, saying the last time the town council hosted a meeting on downtown redevelopment, the meeting lasted nine hours. Lotano said he had not had a single complaint from residents regarding the downtown hi-rises apartments and redevelopment plan.
Councilman Josh Kopp, a running mate of Mayor Hill in the June GOP primary election, said, “We are not having a summit at a council meeting.”
The Mo Hill team, Councilman Kopp, Lotano, and Geoghegan voted no to a motion to hold a public hearing. Councilman Quinlisk, another ally of Mo Hill, also voted no. Roderick and Lamb were the only yes votes on the measure.
Council Vice President Geoghegan alleged the timing of the concern over the downtown redevelopment project is politically motivated and orchestrated by a higher power, eluding to GOP Chairman George Gilmore.
“Now is certainly not the time to hold a summit,” Geoghegan said. “I vote no.”
“I do not think it should be during a council meeting,” Lotano said, arguing the meeting can go on for “hours and hours”.
“There you have it folks, there’s not going to be a summit,” Rodrick said,
Lotano suggested that in the future, the town can host a meeting on a Saturday. Saturday is considered the Sabbath, a Jewish holy day that would preclude Orthodox Jewish residents from attending the meeting.