TOMS RIVER – The township’s attempt to build a new park was halted when it was reported that asbestos on a house that used to be there may not have been properly disposed of, but the mayor said the health impact is very low.
A 4.3-acre parcel of residential property at the corner of Batchelor Street and Clifton Avenue, behind the Stop & Shop on Route 37, was purchased by the town in 2023, to prevent more housing.
An inclusive playground consistent with the Americans With Disabilities Act was planned. Mayor Daniel Rodrick had previously said that a grant would pay for most of the construction.
Neighbors of the property had asked at public meetings when construction would begin. When the two abandoned houses on the property were torn down, word spread on social media. Photos were shared online of construction debris with asbestos that didn’t appear to be disposed of properly. It was reported to officials, and then investigators shut the site down.
Brian Lippai, Chief of Administrative Services for the County Department of Health, said they contacted the State Department of Labor.
“Since the demolition, the Department of Labor is working with Toms River officials to have the remainder of the debris removed to avoid any contamination,” he said.
The State Department of Environmental Protection said they are assisting the investigation, which is being led by the State Department of Health.
The DOH responded to The Toms River Times that they are actively investigating and cannot comment.
The DOH and DOL have training regulations to license workers to safely remove asbestos. The DOH notes “When intact and undisturbed, asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. Damaged asbestos-containing materials may pose a health risk if fibers are released into the air and inhaled into the lungs.”
“It is important to note that not everyone who is exposed to asbestos develops an asbestos-related disease. Available information on the health effects related to asbestos exposure primarily comes from long-term studies of people exposed to large quantities of asbestos in the workplace,” the DOH states on its website.
Rodrick said that the investigators took away the asbestos shingles. “They’ll test the dirt. If they find a certain amount, we will have to clean it.”
When it comes to asbestos, prolonged exposure causes the most harm, Rodrick said. These would be people working in an enclosed factory using asbestos without precautions. Outside, in the air – that is far less likely to cause illness.
The township was unaware of the asbestos in the home.
“It wasn’t in the environmental report,” he said.
Critics have noted that the real estate listing for the house on Redfin.com showed that it had asbestos.
Cancelled Meeting
The Township Council meeting for October was cancelled, causing quite a bit of back-and-forth on social media.
Rodrick said it was because all non-essential staff were sent home early on that day. There was a nor’easter coming, and he wanted to give employees time off before it hit, so they could, for example, get their Halloween decorations put away.
Critics said the mayor was cancelling the meeting to prevent this topic from coming up right before the election. They tried to have an informal gathering at town hall, but they weren’t allowed to do that. They instead held it at a distillery within walking distance of town hall.
“Residents deserve transparency, accountability, and the opportunity to voice their concerns at the legally required monthly Council Meetings,” they said.
The main critics included Councilmen Tom Nivison, David Ciccozzi, and James Quinlisk, as well as their allies Robert Bianchini and Clinton Bradley. Even Democrats Susan Payne Gato and Paul Williams were among the 45 or so attendees.
Ciccozzi noted during the event that his access card letting him into town hall wasn’t working that night. He said the three minute time limit for each member of the public – and the cancellation of the meeting – were because Rodrick and his administration doesn’t want to hear from the public.
One of the attendees said she lived on Batchelor Drive but was afraid to speak at council meetings.
Reached before the meeting, Rodrick said there wasn’t anything important on the agenda, and the next meeting is scheduled for November 12.
“We don’t need the meeting, and they need the meeting for a stunt,” he said, explaining that critics of his administration would use the asbestos issue to grandstand.
Rodrick said that any organization that wants to use town hall (or any town asset) has to go through a process to request it, and that wasn’t done.
