Toms River Mayor Mo Hill is slamming the two councilmen who voted against the 2023 Capital Bond Ordinance during last week’s council meeting, saying the township will have no funding for road paving, sewage drainage and other maintenance projects.

“The political grandstanding by Councilmen Rodrick and Lamb is putting lives and property at risk,” Mayor Maurice B. “Mo’ Hill said in a statement.

“These two political hacks never leave campaign mode and are always scheming for headlines. They are not serious about serving the public but rather are only self-serving.  Their most recent action has real negative consequences for the residents of Toms River,” Hill added.

Councilmen Justin Lamb and Dan Rodrick voted against the $13.9 million bond measure at last week’s meeting.

Rodrick, who is challenging Hill in this year’s mayoral primary race, said he was opposed because the bond will increase the township’s debt and because most of the funds will be used for downtown development plans.

Lamb said he was opposed because most of the funds will be used for the “downtown loop,” which is a plan aimed at improving the traffic flow and pedestrian access in the area.

The $13.9 million bond ordinance included $1.5 million for the Township’s share of the Loop/Water Street project and the federal government has agreed to pay $5.6 million towards the project if the Township participates – money which Mayor Hill says is now at risk because of what he described as “the reckless actions of Councilmen Lamb and Rodrick.”

The council vote was 4-2, with Councilmen Kevin Geoghegan, Josh Kopp, Matthew Lotano and James Quinlisk voting yes.

However, bond ordinances require a super majority of 5 affirmative votes to pass. Councilman David Ciccozzi was absent so the vote fell one short..

Hill said he will ask the Council to introduce a new Capital Bonding Ordinance, but that the delay will increase costs and potentially push some road paving and elevation projects into 2024.

“We lost the prime months of April and May for road improvements,” Hill said.

“Fuel prices always rise in the summer and oil prices are on the rise again which increases the cost of asphalt. We may not be able to repair all the roads we planned to fix this year.  Rodrick and Lamb have really hurt the taxpayers with this stunt,” he added.

The Republican primary will take place on June 6.