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Ocean Township adopts ordinance to combine planning and zoning boards amid debate over appointment process
Summary
The Ocean Township Council adopted Ordinance 2544 to merge the planning board and zoning board of adjustment but members clashed over how to fill the vacant seats, agreeing to finalize a rubric, timeline and resume review before appointments are completed.
Ocean Township’s governing body adopted Ordinance 2544 on June 11 to create a single joint planning and zoning board but stopped short of a final decision on who will fill the newly opened seats.
The council voted on the ordinance after limited public discussion and general debate among members about how to select members for the consolidated body. The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote with each member recorded in the affirmative.
Why it matters: The change will collapse two land-use boards into one and creates multiple vacancies that must be filled before the consolidated board can fully act. Several council members said they wanted a transparent, time-bound selection process so incumbents and new applicants are treated equitably.
Council discussion focused on procedure rather than whether to combine the boards. Members reported receiving a large number of applications—roughly 20 resumes for about 19 seats—and described sharply different views about whether current appointees should be required to reapply. One council member said the municipality should "put a rubric together, score the resumes, interview candidates and decide how many to bring in," arguing the body should approach the selection the same way it would a formal hiring decision.
Other council members said department staff who work directly with the land-use boards provide important performance context and that their recommendations should carry weight when considering reappointments. Council members agreed to collect and circulate the resumes they have, to consult Colleen (planning staff) for her recommendations, and to assemble a rubric and timeline ahead of the board appointments so the process is complete by the council’s scheduled July 9 meeting.
Process and next steps: Council directed staff to circulate the planning department’s materials and the ARH wetland exhibit related to Ocean Glades, and several members asked that incumbents be invited to submit resumes to ensure fairness. A plan to finalize the appointment rubric and interview schedule was set as an action item for the coming weeks.
What was not decided: The ordinance adopts the combined board structure; it does not itself appoint members or specify which incumbents will be retained. Council members emphasized that any departmental recommendations are advisory and that final appointment decisions rest with the council.
The council then moved into closed session for personnel matters.
