TOMS RIVER, NJ – Newly elected Mayor Daniel Rodrick rode a tidal wave of anti-development sentiment last year, defeating incumbent republican Maurice “Mo” Hill in a landslide primary victory. Rodrick went on to win the General Election, defeating Democrat Ben Giovine with over 71% of the vote.
Although an opposing party member, Giovine supported Hill’s plans for the two 10-story apartment towers downtown.
On Wednesday, the township council approved Mayor Rodrick’s first step toward stopping the hi-rise projects. Rodrick hired Louis N. Rainone from the powerful firm of State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. Their firm has extensive experience and is one of New Jersey’s most influential law firms. Republicans don’t ordinarily hire democratic law firms, but insiders say Rodrick believes they have the expertise and influence to kill the deal.
The remnants of former Toms River Mayor Mo Hill’s administration tried unsuccessfully to block Mayor Dan Rodrick’s hiring of an attorney to defend the township against the controversial downtown apartment building complex built by Capodaglia.
Councilmen David Ciccozi and James Quinlisk voted against the resolution appointing the firm. Both had voted for the project championed by former Mayor Maurice B. Hill when he was the mayor. When the developer, Capodaglia, missed their deadlines and defaulted on their commitments to the township, the pair voted to extend the agreement between the company and the township.
That agreement saw Toms River give the land to the builder for just one dollar and offered the developer a special deal on taxes, exempting the towers from school taxes for 30 years.
Rodrick, along with Councilman Justin Lamb, had fought the project for years but were always on the losing end of a 5-2 council vote. Now that Rodrick and Lamb have a council-allied majority of 5-2, the tables have turned on the remnants of the Mo Hill regime.
James Quinlisk balked, accusing the mayor of bringing in a lawyer to “stop the project”. Rodrick blasted Quinlisk, “you’re going to get our town sued! You need a muzzle!” Rodrick said the firm will defend the township’s interests, noting that Capodaglia had defaulted on their agreement once before.
Instead of hi-riser apartments, Rodrick’s suggested constructing a pier with a restaurant and a bar on the Toms River where the old boat works building is on Robbins Parkway. He has also proposed adding a sprinkler park and Jet Ski pads to Huddy Park, with his goal being making the area a downtown destination.