Toms River council approves consent agenda, advances multiple traffic ordinances; sets public hearing on SID budget

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — The Toms River Township Council on March 25 approved a package of routine items and advanced several traffic-related ordinances in motions and roll-call votes taken during the formal meeting.

The council voted to approve the minutes from February and the consent agenda by single motions and to pay the township’s bills. Council members recorded a small number of abstentions on certain vendor payees during the bills vote; the clerk noted the items and the remainder of the bills were approved by roll call.

Several ordinances received their first reading and were introduced by council motion. Those measures, all advanced without substantive debate, included amendments to the township’s vehicles-and-traffic code that change through-street designations and reduce speed limits on multiple road segments, and changes that convert certain yield signs to flashing stop signs.

The council also introduced and approved by resolution a date for a public hearing on the 2025 Toms River Special Improvement District budget. Separately, the council approved a resolution withdrawing the township from participation in the state affordable housing dispute-resolution program and authorizing the filing of a declaratory judgment action seeking a judgment of compliance and repose for the fourth round of affordable housing obligations.

Why it matters: These votes move multiple traffic safety proposals and procedural budget steps forward with little debate, and the housing withdrawal signals the township’s change in approach to state dispute-resolution for affordable housing obligations.

Key actions recorded (motions and roll-call outcomes): - Approval of February minutes — motion carried by roll call (motion moved; second recorded). - Proclamation honoring Toms River High School North football team — adopted by voice vote. - Ordinance (first reading): amend through-streets (Hancock Road) — introduced; motion carried by roll call. - Ordinance (first reading): Windsor Avenue speed limits reduced (various segments) — introduced; motion carried by roll call. - Ordinance (first reading): Indian Hill Road intersections — remove yield signs and install flashing stop signs at Carroll Drive and Rountree Drive — introduced; motion carried by roll call. - Ordinance (first reading): Guilford Avenue—install flashing stop sign and stop bar at Anthony Avenue; install stop bar at Morris Boulevard — introduced; motion carried by roll call. - Ordinance (first reading): Grand Avenue and Lexington Avenue speed reductions — introduced; motion carried by roll call. - Ordinance (first reading): removal of non‑existent streets (Colonial Road, Continental Drive) from traffic schedules — introduced; motion carried by roll call. - Resolution: set public hearing date for 2025 Special Improvement District budget — introduced and approved by roll call. - Resolution: withdraw from the affordable housing dispute-resolution program and authorize filing of a declaratory judgment action seeking compliance/repose for the fourth round of affordable housing obligations — motion carried by roll call (all members recorded as voting yes on the record). - Consent agenda — approved by single motion and roll call. - Bills payable — approved by roll call with noted abstentions on specific payees; remainder approved.

Council procedure notes: Most ordinance items were advanced as first readings (introduction) with votes to move them forward; none were adopted on final reading at this meeting. The council president presided over roll-call votes for each motion.

What’s next: First‑reading ordinances will return for second reading and final adoption at a subsequent public meeting on dates to be noticed. The Special Improvement District budget will proceed to the public hearing on the date the council established.