Mayor hill’s plan to sell lakewood official public land worth $912k for just $247k exposed and under investigation

Mayor Hill’s Plan to Sell Lakewood Official Public Land Worth $912K for Just $247K Exposed and Under Investigation

Posted by
1 min read
August 27, 2020

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River – Mayor Hill’s discounted sale of public land to a Lakewood Planning Board Member was exposed by Councilman Dan Rodrick at the August 11th meeting of the Township Council.

1870 Hinds Rd is a 1.22 acre parcel of public land assessed at over $750,000, with a market value of $912,000. The property was slated to be sold to an anonymous LLC, but Councilman Rodrick produced documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act that identified the owner of the LLC as Lakewood Planning Board Member Chaim Sabel.

“Given the value of the land, the sale price, and the circumstances surrounding the sale, I believe this sale should be investigated,” Rodrick said.

A Resolution authorizing the sale of 1870 Hinds Rd for just $247K listed the llc as the “sole bidder,” but Councilman Rodrick produced screenshots from the internet auction showing there were bids above $247K – and it also showed there were numerous bidders.  Shore News Network has been in communication with the auction house, but they claim that the township was forwarded all bid and bidder information.

“Here we have a political insider getting a $900,000 piece of property for $250,000 – this is either extreme incompetence or it’s criminalm,” Rodrick said.

The 1870 Hinds Rd auction closed on June 24th, but the llc – which was listed as the “sole bidder” – wasn’t formed until 2 days later on June 26th. So if the township knew who all the bidders were – why would they allow a Lakewood Planning Board member to hide behind an anonymous post office box LLC?  And, given that there were bids higher than $247K, why was a Lakewood Official getting the property for a discounted price?

Council Rodrick suspects this may be bid-rigging, and sent all of the documentation to the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice – Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.  The Division advised Shore News Network that they are currently looking into the matter.   Bid Rigging is an Antitrust violation under the Sherman Act – punishable by up to $1 million in fines and up to 10 years in prison.

Mayor Hill has since reversed course, and the township has not gone through with the sale.  Shore News Network was unable to reach Lakewood Planning Board member Chaim Sabel, who declined comment to the Asbury Park Press.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version