TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick blasted Council President Justin Lamb on Thursday, accusing him of siding with what he called the “Mo Hill Gang” and Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore in a heated fight over the future of the township’s utilities authority. Merging the MUA with the township could have saved taxpayers as much as $2.5 million annually according to a study conducted by former Mayor Thomas Kelaher.
Rodrick said Lamb shocked the entire town by voting against his own ordinance during Wednesday night’s meeting, adding that he believed the council president was getting something in return. Rodrick alleged that Gilmore promised to give Lamb’s wife Ashley, a member of the Toms River School Board, a position in county government as the next deputy clerk under Ocean County Clerk-Elect Jack Kelly’s tenure.
Lamb denied that accusation, but today, Ocean Countyu GOP Chairman Gilmore acknowledged Rodrick’s claim in an interview with the Asbury Park Press.
“I have not promised her that she would be the county clerk,” Gilmore said. “I did tell her that I would submit her name for consideration to Jack Kelly.”
Kelly and Gilmore are business partners in a political campaign management business and the two have been close political friends and allies for decades.
With Lamb’s opposition, the vote kept the Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) — an independent agency that manages the town’s wastewater system — intact despite the mayor’s efforts to dissolve it.
Rodrick accuses Lamb of backroom deal
Rodrick said Lamb’s reversal came after political promises allegedly tied to Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore, whose law firm represents the MUA. “Council President Lamb’s sudden reversal is a clear indication of a promise made by Convict Chairman George Gilmore,” Rodrick said. “Lamb’s wife was promised a job at the county and she was also promised to be the next Ocean County Clerk when Jack Kelly steps aside.”
Gilmore said Rodrick’s accusation was not entirely false, but she would be recommended for a job as deputy County Clerk, which could replace the ailing Kelly. Kelly’s health has been in noticeable decline over the years, making the Deputy Clerk a potential successor should he resign or,worse, die in office.
Rodrick said the deal ensures that MUA commissioners — including Phil Brilliant, who is leading a recall effort against the mayor — retain lucrative taxpayer-funded benefits. Brilliant, he added, stands to keep his $43,000 annual health insurance package (based on a family of 4) for attending roughly one hour of meetings each month. That means each commissioner on the MUA could be receiving a salary worth $3,700.00 per hour if they received the full $41,595 pension and health benefit plan, plus their $2,000 paid salary for those meetings.
According to Toms River Patch, “MUA commissioner Phil Brilliant, a vocal critic of Rodrick and a favorite target of the mayor, receives $17,300 in additional compensation including health coverage, according to the 2025 MUA budget.”
Free Healthcare Patronage Pit for the Politically Connected
Commissioners Sam Ellenbogen (Head of Toms River Jewish Community Council and Ocean County Commissioner-Elect, and Charles Valvano (Trustee of the Toms River Regular Republican Club) each have a $41,595 benefits and pension package. Other members, including Joseph Billotta (Toms River Republican Club Leader), and Katarina Sevastakis (daughter of former Councilman John Sevastakis), each receive total compensation between $28,400 and $334,858 for their one-hour per month meetings.
That would mean Brilliant is being compensated $1,608 per hour for his twelve meetings. He missed at least one meeting in the past year, according to MUA meeting minutes.
Mayor calls MUA a taxpayer burden
Rodrick condemned the continued existence of the MUA, claiming its board members receive full-time benefits for part-time work. “The Township already manages the stormwater sewers. Residents shouldn’t have to pay outrageous sewer bills to an authority that doesn’t need to exist,” Rodrick said. “Dissolving the MUA would’ve saved taxpayers millions of dollars.”
Records reviewed by the township show Brilliant has missed at least one meeting this year, the mayor said. Rodrick called Wednesday’s vote “a sad day for residents.”
Lamb defends his stance but echoes criticism of MUA patronage pit
During the meeting, Lamb reaffirmed his opposition to political appointments but justified his vote. “I’ve railed against all these authorities,” Lamb said. “These places are where we just put professionals — we just don’t know what to do with them in the township. We just give them another role.”
Rodrick said Lamb’s comments contradicted his actions. “It’s pretty clear that this council is bought and owned by the same political interests,” he said, arguing that the MUA benefits politically connected law and engineering firms that “milk taxpayers for about half a million dollars a year each.”