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Council approves consent agenda and a single $58,000 police vehicle purchase amid questions about funding
Summary
The council approved the consent agenda (excluding items J and L) and later approved item J authorizing one police vehicle for $58,000; councilmembers asked whether the purchase is part of a previously approved multi-vehicle authorization and one member abstained from the vote.
TOMS RIVER, N.J. — The Toms River Township Council approved the bulk of its consent agenda and later authorized a $58,000 purchase listed for one police vehicle after brief debate about whether the vehicle is part of a previously approved group purchase.
Councilwoman O'Toole moved to approve the balance of the consent agenda, "minus J and L," and Councilman Nievesen seconded the motion. The balance of the consent agenda carried on roll call.
When the council moved to item J, several members and residents asked why only a single vehicle was listed. One council speaker said staff believed additional vehicles would be covered by separate resolutions and that there had been prior approval for a larger vehicle purchase. A council staffer explained the single-item resolution covers only one vehicle and that "if additional vehicles need to be purchased, then they'll have another resolution."
The motion to approve item J (purchase of one police vehicle for $58,000) was made by Councilman Nievesen and seconded by Councilwoman O'Toole. During roll call several members voted yes; Councilman Sikosi abstained (citing a prior August 27 vote and uncertainty whether this item was included in the earlier $8.9 million police appropriation), and Councilman Quinlan recorded a no vote. The motion carried.
Council also discussed item L and whether the funds were included in the previous ordinance/bond; municipal staff said the funds for item L came from existing capital accounts rather than the recently passed ordinance, and the council approved item L by roll call.
Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (balance, excluding J and L): approved (motion: Councilwoman O'Toole; second: Councilman Nievesen). - Item J — Purchase of one police vehicle ($58,000): approved (motion: Councilman Nievesen; second: Councilwoman O'Toole). Recorded votes included multiple yes votes, one abstention (Councilman Sikosi) and at least one no (Councilman Quinlan). - Item L — Clarification of capital funds: approved (motion: Councilwoman O'Toole; second: Council Vice President Coleman).
Councilmembers asked staff to clarify funding sources and whether the single-vehicle line item was part of previously bonded funds; staff replied that additional vehicles would be the subject of separate resolutions and that item L used existing capital accounts.
