Toms River Township Council Meeting - July 8, 2026
Toms River Township Council Meeting - July 8, 2026
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. The council addressed several administrative items, including approval of minutes, an executive session resolution, and multiple fiscal measures. A significant portion of the meeting involved a dispute between the council majority and the mayor over the appointment of special counsel Archer & Griner.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from the June 10, 2026 council meeting were approved (vote: 6 yes, 1 absent; note: later in the meeting the clerk stated minutes were not presented, but a vote had already occurred).
- The consent agenda (items A–I) was approved as a block with the exception of letters C and E, which were pulled for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jason Senna (Archer & Griner) – Spoke during the executive session discussion, asserting that the council, as a separate branch of government from the mayor, is entitled to select its own legal counsel.
- Mr. Galante (1149 Cherokee Court) – Questioned the tax collector about the estimated tax rate adjustment (Item C) and later expressed concern that the 2026 budget was not open for public comment at the prior meeting.
Discussion Items
- Executive Session Resolution (Item 7) – The council voted 4-3 to enter closed session to discuss litigation; the mayor objected, stating the appointment of Archer & Griner was unlawful. The council entered executive session without the clerk, which the mayor argued made the session unlawful.
- Authorization of Archer & Griner (Item 8, after executive session) – A motion to authorize Archer & Griner to enter an appearance in the “Brilliant lawsuit” on behalf of the town council passed 4-3 (Bradley, Biancini, Nivison, Socosi yes; Coleman, Aber, O’Toole no). The mayor stated he would file an order to show cause contesting the April resolution that appointed Archer & Griner.
- Bond Ordinance for Capital Improvements (Item 8) – First reading of a $9 million bond ordinance for paving and equipment; approved 6-1 (Council President Socosi voted no).
- Amendment to 2026 Introduced Budget (Item 9) – Second reading with public comment; no public comments offered. Approved unanimously.
- Adoption of Fiscal Year 2026 Municipal Budget as Amended (Item 10) – Approved 6-1 (Socosi no).
- Consent Agenda Item C – Tax Rate Estimate Adjustment – Tax Collector Carl explained that because the school budget was adopted late, the estimated tax rate for August 2026 was revised to avoid a spike; the adjustment spreads the same total amount more evenly across quarters. Councilman Galante questioned the change. Approved unanimously.
- Consent Agenda Item E – Property Maintenance Charges – A resolution imposing charges for municipal property maintenance services. Councilman expressed concerns that the fee schedule had not been updated since the prior administration and recommended a review. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Executive session entered (4-3) despite mayor’s objection.
- Archer & Griner authorized to represent the town council in the Brilliant lawsuit (4-3).
- Bond ordinance for $9 million in capital improvements passed (6-1).
- Budget amendment and final 2026 budget adopted (both by 6-1 votes).
- Tax rate estimate for August 2026 adjusted to smooth quarterly bills (unanimous).
- Property maintenance charges resolution approved (unanimous).
- Bill list approved with one abstention (Councilman Aber recused from PO 26-03 225).
Meeting Transcript
And we're gonna call the meeting to order. Uh please rise for the flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the recall for which it stands. One nation under God. All right. This meeting is convened in accordance with the provisions of the open public meetings act of New Jersey. Let the official minutes reflect that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by publishing a notice in the Asbury Park Press, the start ledger on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026, and thereafter posting same on the town hall Bolton board for such notices and filing same with the township clerk pursuant to a resolution adopted by the township council on Thursday, January 1st, 2026. The meeting dates have also been posted on the township web page. Okay. Roll call, please. Councilman Bradley. Here. Councilman Biancini? Here. Council Vice President Nivison? Here. Council President Soccosi. Here. Councilman Coleman? Here. Councilman Aber? Here. Councilwoman O'Toole. Yes. Here. Let the record uh reflect that Councilwoman O'Toole is uh uh is phoning in again. Okay, thank you. All right, um moving on to number five. Item number five is the minutes from the June 10th, 2026 council meeting. Okay, I I need a motion, council president. Uh member what you asked me to do, it's not in there. So just letting you know. Um mention that on on the record now, please. So uh per council president's instructions about having um when the mayor calls out, none of that was mentioned in the uh minutes from last month. Okay, you mean the interruptions? Yes, okay, thank you. Okay, so I I need a motion for number five, please. I'll make a motion. Is there a second? I'll second it. Okay, roll call, please. Motion was made by councilman Biancini, seconded by councilman Bradley, Councilman Biancini, yes, councilman Bradley, yes, council vice president Nivison, yes, Council President Socosi. Yes, Councilman Coleman, yes, councilman neighbor, yes, uh councilwoman O'Toole. Yeah, okay. Um think we have anything this evening. No, no presentations. Okay, um, you want to read uh executive session, please? Sure. No item number seven is an executive session resolution of the township council of the township of Toms River, Ocean County, New Jersey authorizing an executive session to discuss confidential matters, including act of litigation, which are covered under NJSA 10412 B7, which by express provision of federal law, state statute or rule of court shall be rendered confidential or excluded from the provisions of subsection A of NJSA 10412.
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