TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority has hired the firm of Van Cleef Engineering Associates, LLC, where former Toms River Township Engineer Robert Chankalian serves as Senior Professional Engineer. Chankalian previously served as the Township Engineer for Toms River before being fired by Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick.
The contract with the Jackson MUA is valued at approximately $300,000 annually for the firm. Chankalian earned $142,000 per year in Toms River before his termination.
The hire was facilitated by MUA chairperson Todd Porter. Porter, also a former Toms River Township employee was recently fired by Rodrick. The move to hire Chankalian also dealt a blow to the Republican pay-to-play engineering firm Remington and Vernick Engineers.
The Jackson MUA is controlled by the ‘Glory’ faction of the Jackson Republican establishment. Insiders reported that the firing of Remmington and Vernick Engineers was political payback after the firm donated to the political campaign of Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina.
In 2022, Remington and Vernick Engineers billed $288,000 to the Jackson MUA.
The Jackson MUA is an independent authority and is not under the jurisdiction of the Jackson Township mayor or council.