TOMS RIVER – Council members refused to attend a meeting that could have changed the town’s insurance manager. While Mayor Daniel Rodrick said that a different insurance company could bring savings of $300,000 to $500,000 a year, council members opposing him said they have yet to see proof of this.
One thing all parties agree on is that the town’s contract with a joint insurance fund, or JIF, was going to expire at the end of the year.
A special Township Council meeting was scheduled for December 30 for the purposes of choosing an insurance manager. That meeting was ultimately cancelled when it was learned that not enough council members would show up to vote. Without a quorum, a meeting can’t be held.
Dave Grubb, senior partner with PERMA Risk Management Services, which oversees the town’s insurance coverage, confirmed with The Toms River Times that the town’s membership was going to expire at the end of 2025. However, an extension was granted so that the town would have additional time to make a decision.
Dueling Letters
Township Business Administrator Jon Salonis sent each council member a letter stating that the town’s enrollment in the Ocean County Joint Insurance Fund would expire on December 31.
“The Township has been provided premium quotes for membership in a different insurance fund that will save the Township approximately $500,000 (roughly 10% of the current cost) annually in insurance premiums for property, casualty and liability insurance, while still providing adequate coverage to the Township and its elected officials and employees,” the letter stated.
The re-organization meeting is scheduled for noon on January 1. This is when the winners of November’s election get sworn in, and a lot of professionals are appointed.
If any injuries or accidents happen during the 12 hours between midnight on December 31 and noon on January 1, it will leave the town vulnerable, Salonis said. He mentioned police officers on duty New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day in particular.
“The Administration has attempted to reach you all over the past week to ascertain dates and times that work for at least four Councilmembers in order to establish a quorum, and it has either not heard back from you or there is an unwillingness to attend a meeting prior to year’s end,” the letter said. It urged members to attend either in person or to call in during this time.
Three of the council members who regularly oppose Rodrick replied to this letter in the form of a press release saying that the mayor can’t order his own council meeting.
Councilmen David Ciccozzi, Thomas Nivison, and James Quinlisk said they have yet to receive any information to make an informed decision on the renewal with the current JIF or to join a new JIF.
“The mayor’s lack of due diligence to address this crucial issue is incomprehensible and should have been addressed months ago,” Nivison said.
“It is deeply troubling that the Mayor failed to do his job; the Mayor has instead demanded a last-minute meeting and has not even provided any information to address the issue,” Ciccozzi said.
Outgoing Council President Justin Lamb sent a press release, and said the lapse in township insurance coverage was the direct result of the administration’s lack of planning.
“The Mayor’s claim that Toms River was facing an insurance lapse was simply not true,” Lamb said. “It was a false public alarm created by the administration’s own incompetence.”
“The Council immediately stepped in, corrected the administration’s failure, and ensured uninterrupted coverage for the Township,” Lamb said. “That is our job, and we did it.”
Rodrick said this was another disappointing day for taxpayers, since the savings could have been between $900,000 and $1.5 million over the next three years.
“We had a terrific opportunity to significantly reduce costs by moving our property and casualty insurance coverage from the Ocean County Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) to the New Jersey JIF,” Mayor Rodrick said. “Unfortunately, political power brokers won again, and taxpayers lost.”
He explained that property and casualty insurance covers all municipal buildings and vehicles, as well as workers’ compensation and liability protection.
“This decision had to be made before the annual reorganization meeting,” he said. “If it wasn’t, Toms River would have entered the new year without insurance coverage, including coverage for our police officers. That was simply not an option.”
Rodrick said he called a special meeting prior to January 1 to address the issue. However, he was unable to obtain a quorum.
“Councilmembers Lamb, Ciccozzi, and Nivison refused to attend the meeting, and Councilman Quinlisk failed to respond to repeated phone calls, text messages, or emails,” Rodrick said. “Their absence left me with no choice.”
The Mayor noted that while some councilmembers may now claim they lacked sufficient time to review the materials, he strongly disputes that assertion.
“That is an old and tired excuse,” he said. “They refused to return calls and declined invitations to meet and conference on this matter. The opportunity to engage was there, and it was ignored.”
Rodrick also said that keeping the Ocean County JIF is a way to appease Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore.
“Mr. Gilmore has business relationships with influential political figures, including George Norcross, and maintains close ties with Joe Buckelew,” Mayor Rodrick said. “Mr. George Norcross and Mr. Buckelew are principals of PERMA, the company that manages Ocean County JIF along with most JIFs and HIFs in New Jersey. This arrangement has effectively created a virtual monopoly.”
The Ocean County JIF sent a letter to the Township stating it would backdate coverage to midnight on New Year’s Eve if it were reappointed, Rodrick said.
“Despite the fact that staying with the Ocean County JIF will cost taxpayers up to $1.5 million more over three years, the actions – or inactions – of Councilmembers Lamb, Ciccozzi, Nivison, and Quinlisk left me with no other responsible option,” the Mayor said.
