Toms River, NJ – The political divide at Toms River Town Hall deepened this week after the Township Council voted to hire the law firm Archer & Greiner to represent the governing body in litigation, selecting an attorney who was former Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill’s personal campaign lawyer and one of New Jersey’s biggest “Pay to Play” professional firms.

Live Update: Archer and Greiner identified by New Jersey ELEC as a ‘pay to play’ vendor.

Embattled Toms River MUA Commissioner Phil Brilliant is suing the township, and now, the Toms River Council has hired Mo Hill’s politcal campaign lawyer to pay for Brilliant’s legal battle, and they want Toms River residents to pay for it.

A lawyer who has battled for the “interests of Mo Hill” is once again battling for the interests of the Mo Hill aligned political wing.

The 4-3 vote, for now, authorizes Mo Hill campaign lawyers from Archer & Greiner to represent the council in a lawsuit filed by embattled MUA Commissioner Phil Brilliant over the township’s council meeting livestream policy.

Council President David Ciccozzi, Vice President Thomas Nivison, and Councilmen Clinton Bradley and Robert Bianchini supported the measure, while Council members Harry Aber, Craig Coleman and Lynn O’Toole voted against it.

Township attorney Jonathan Penny advised the council that the hiring is illegal as it was decided behind closed doors with four councilmembers in violation of New Jersey’s Sunshine Laws. Mayor Dan Rodrick said the council’s legal authority is to advise and consent, and hiring professionals is strictly an executive authority.

Here’s the breakdown if you’re confused:

MUA commissioner Phil Brilliant is personally suing Toms River. The Toms River Council voted to hire Mo Hill’s political campaign attorney to fight Brilliant’s lawsuit. The town council wants to sue the town and want the town to pay to sue itself. Still confused? Don’t worry, none of it makes sense to anyone, except the “Mo Hill Gang”.

“You can hire a lawyer personally,” Penny advised the council members, who for years have been rejecting Rodrick’s claims that they are part of the “Mo Hill Gang” as they continue fighting the mayor, this time with Mo Hill’s political lawyer.

The irony writes itself in Toms River. It appears Brilliant’s lawsuit needs financial backing and the council wants to provide it.

Lawyer previously represented former Mayor Mo Hill’s campaign

The attorney handling the representation, Jason N. Sena of Archer & Greiner, previously served as legal counsel for former Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill’s 2019 mayoral campaign.

Public records show Sena filed a complaint with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) on behalf of Hill’s campaign seeking an investigation into Hill’s opponent, Jonathan Petro, during the 2019 election.

In a letter to ELEC Chairman Eric H. Jaso, Sena wrote that his firm represented “the interests of Maurice ‘Mo’ Hill’s campaign for the office of Mayor in the Township of Toms River in the 2019 General Election” and requested an investigation into alleged election law violations. The complaint named the “Petro for Toms River” campaign and candidate Jonathan Petro. The document was copied to Petro and members of his campaign.

The hiring would place a former political attorney for Rodrick’s predecessor, and key political opponent in the last mayoral election, in the role of representing the Township Council, which has frequently clashed with Rodrick since he took office.

The band is now back together, seeking to deny Rodrick the opportunity to govern Toms River in a way that is the complete opposite of how Hill and his team ran the town.

Since taking office, Rodrick has cut positions, including dozens of political appointments made by Hill, and kept taxes flat since Hill’s 7% tax increase during his tenure as mayor.

Council and mayor remain at odds

The legal representation stems from litigation filed by MUA comissioner Philip Brilliant, who alleges the township is violating its municipal code by ending the public livestream of council meetings before the public comment portion begins.

Rodrick, in another matter, claims Brilliant and the Toms River MUA are violating municipal code by receiving full-time medical benefits for working just one day each month.

Brilliant, who owns Brilliant Environmental Services and a former leader of Toms River’s largest Jewish synagogue, B’nai Israel, was appointed by Mo Hill, thanking the mayor for extending him free benefits at a time when his business was facing bankruptcy.

According to the township code, there is no legal requirement for the township to livestream meetings. Every township meeting is livestreamed during the business portion of the meetings.

Before the vote, Assistant Township Attorney Jonathan Penney advised council members that hiring separate legal counsel could violate municipal law because the township already has legal representation. He also noted that the publicly advertised meeting of four councilman majority behind closed doors was a violation of state law and will also be addressed by a court action.

Despite that opinion, the council majority approved the appointment of Archer & Greiner.

One of New Jersey’s largest “Pay to Play” legal firms

According to 2025 filings in the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) Pay-to-Play Business Entity Annual Disclosure database, Archer & Greiner, P.C. received $5,972,849.25 in public contracts from state agencies, counties, municipalities, authorities and public institutions while making $210,447.64 in reportable political contributions during the same calendar year. New Jersey law requires firms receiving at least $50,000 in public contracts to disclose both their government contracts and qualifying political contributions annually through ELEC.

The law firm’s largest government clients in 2025 included the Atlantic County Utilities Authority ($1.70 million), Gloucester Township ($631,810), Delaware River Port Authority ($612,955), Monmouth County ($397,360) and Salem County ($226,714). Additional significant public work came from Rutgers University, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Cumberland County Improvement Authority, Gloucester City and numerous municipalities across New Jersey, reflecting the firm’s extensive public-sector legal practice.

The firm’s political giving was bipartisan, with contributions to both Democratic and Republican candidates, county committees and legislative organizations. Among the largest recipients were the New Jersey Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee ($20,000), Team McGreevey for Jersey City 2025 ($17,500), Louis Greenwald for Assembly ($9,500), Gloucester County Democratic Committee ($8,800), Friends of Shaun Golden for Sheriff ($8,400), Atlantic County Republican Committee ($7,500), American Representative Majority ($7,000) and Monmouth County Republican Committee ($6,400), according to the firm’s ELEC Pay-to-Play disclosure.

The lawsuit over the township’s livestream policy remains pending, and the council’s decision to retain separate legal counsel adds another chapter to the ongoing political dispute between the governing body and the mayor’s administration.

Pay to Play Data from NJ ELEC

Here’s a breakdown of Archer & Greiner’s 2025 New Jersey ELEC Business Entity Annual Statement.

Overall Financial Picture (2025)

According to its filing:

• Public contracts received: $5,972,849.25
• Political contributions made: $210,447.64

These figures are reported on the cover page of the filing.

Largest Public Contracts (2025)

The firm represents dozens of municipalities, counties, utilities authorities, redevelopment agencies, universities and state agencies throughout New Jersey.

Largest Political Contributions (Aggregated)

The firm’s largest recipients in 2025 were:

Notable Bipartisan Giving

The filing shows Archer & Greiner contributes to both Democratic and Republican organizations, including:

Democrats

• NJ Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee
• Craig Coughlin
• Louis Greenwald
• Team McGreevey
• Gloucester County Democratic Committee
• Mercer County Democratic Committee
• Passaic County Democratic Committee
• Nilsa Cruz-Perez
• Teresa Ruiz
• Bill Moen
• Carol Murphy
• Eliana Pintor Marin

Republicans

• Jack Ciattarelli
• Monmouth County Republican Committee
• Atlantic County Republican Committee
• Salem County Republican Committee
• Hunterdon County Republican Committee
• Warren County Republican Committee
• Cape May County Regular Republican Organization
• Dawn Fantasia
• Sean Kean
• Brandon Umba
• Vicky Flynn
• Parker Space

The giving pattern is broadly bipartisan, with significant contributions directed toward legislative leadership, county organizations, local slates, and committees on both sides of the aisle.

Key Takeaways

• Total government contracts: $5.97 million
• Total political contributions: $210,447.64
• Largest client: Atlantic County Utilities Authority ($1.7 million)
• Other major public clients: Gloucester Township, Delaware River Port Authority, Monmouth County, Rutgers University, Salem County, and the New Jersey Attorney General.
• Largest political recipient: NJ Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee ($20,000), followed by Team McGreevey ($17,500).

The filing also reflects that Archer & Greiner maintains a wide statewide public-sector practice, representing counties, municipalities, utilities authorities, redevelopment agencies, universities, and state entities across New Jersey