Council approves police vehicle purchases, cooperative renewals and reallocates ARPA funds for capital projects

The Toms River Township Council approved several consent resolutions including cooperative-purchasing renewals and the purchase of 11 police vehicles (Chevrolet Tahoes) under state contract, and it moved ARPA funds into capital and paving programs.

Police leadership told the council the department expects to acquire 11 Tahoes to replace aging Explorers at a lower lifecycle cost and that vehicles would be lettered for identification. The chief said the fleet purchase would be covered by budgeted funds and seized- or restricted-accounts rather than bonding. "Wewere already budgeted for it...we were able to make up the difference," the chief said.

Council members debated whether to keep the department's traditional blue-and-white paint scheme or switch to black vehicles (including for undercover units). Some members argued for consistency and visibility; others cited cost savings and faster turnaround if factory paint is preserved. The council approved the purchase and cooperative renewals by roll call.

On a separate consent resolution, council approved moving unused grant receivables and reallocating ARPA funds to capital projects including camera/security improvements and recreational improvements; staff said unused allocations must be moved or returned to the federal government and that reallocations would support the paving program. Council members pressed staff about transparency and asked where previously allocated ARPA money had been spent and why certain line items appeared unspent.

Council approved multiple items on the consent agenda after some requests to hold items for separate votes; motions and individual roll-call votes are recorded on the meeting record.