Toms River, NJ — In a swift and unanimous vote, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners approved more than $5.8 million in capital spending Tuesday during a public hearing that saw no public objections, greenlighting major upgrades to the county administration building and the construction of a new facility at Ocean County College.
The first ordinance, totaling $2.8 million, allocates funds to overhaul the aging Ocean County Administration Building in downtown Toms River. Director of the Board Jack Kelly detailed that the improvements will include a new HVAC chiller system, roof replacement, and the installation of new exterior doors and windows. The funds will be drawn from the county’s Capital Improvement Fund.
“This money will be provided to upgrade HVAC air condition chiller, roof replacement, window and exterior doors replacement, all to the County Administration building,” Kelly said prior to opening the floor to public comment. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.
The board unanimously adopted the ordinance, with Commissioner Virginia E. Haines making the motion and Commissioner Robert S. Arace seconding it.
Minutes later, the commissioners turned their attention to a second ordinance, approving $3 million to support the construction of a new two-story, 18,000-square-foot administration building on the Ocean County College campus. The planned structure will be located between the planetarium and the existing administrative building.
According to Director Kelly, the project is part of a broader $15 million development effort, with costs shared between Ocean County and New Jersey’s Chapter 12 funding. The existing three-story administration building on campus will be repurposed for classroom use once the new structure is completed.
“We are very, very proud of this Ordinance which continues our investment in the Ocean County College Administration Building,” Kelly said before calling for public comment. Again, no one from the public came forward.
Commissioner Haines also moved this second ordinance, with Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione seconding the motion. The board passed the measure without opposition.
Both ordinances were introduced on July 2 and finalized without amendments or dissent at the July 16 meeting.
Key Points
- Ocean County approved over $5.8 million for administrative building upgrades and a new college facility in Toms River.
- No members of the public spoke during the hearings for either ordinance.
- The new Ocean County College building is part of a $15 million campus development effort.
Ocean County’s fast-tracked funding for government and college building projects sailed through without a single voice of opposition.
