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Toms River residents press council over mayor's use of township vehicle; council agrees to draft ordinance
Summary
Multiple residents accused Mayor Daniel T. Roderick of using a township vehicle and township funds for a secondary commute to Irvington and asked who approved it; council members said the vehicle use was approved by the council and said they would work on an ordinance.
TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Several residents used the public-comment portion of the Toms River Township Council meeting to press elected officials for details about Mayor Daniel T. Roderick's use of a township vehicle and to ask whether township funds have been covering commute costs.
Craig Saltarelli of Cedar Grove Road said the mayor had received recent vehicle work and new tires that he said were paid for with township funds and asked, "Who approves that?" Saltarelli also said he had received personal emails from a mayoral aide and asked why the correspondence was sent from a personal address rather than an official channel.
Township staff responded in the meeting that the mayor's use of a township vehicle "was approved by the council." A different council speaker added that township vehicles do not pay for tolls: "does not pay for any tolls in any township vehicles."
Other residents echoed concerns about fairness and oversight. Dawn Corbett Nieveson questioned whether the mayor's outside employment during mayoral hours and use of a township vehicle amounted to "double dipping," and asked the council to show when and how the arrangement was authorized. Barbara Crystal asked whether an ordinance could limit how long the township would fund the mayor's commute, citing what she said is a 64.5-mile round trip.
Council members did not provide immediate documentary proof during the meeting. Township counsel said the clerk and staff would review records and that the administration would look into allegations raised during public comment. Later in the session a council member stated, "We'll start working on an ordinance for that," indicating the council planned to consider formal limits or rules regarding vehicle use.
The meeting record does not include a formal vote or a specific timeline for any new ordinance or discipline related to the claims made during public comment. Several residents requested follow-up and documentation; the council suggested members of the public make a records appointment for a detailed review.
Next steps: the council said staff and counsel would review the records and that the council would begin drafting an ordinance to address the issue.
