TOMS RIVER – Big issues – like school funding – and small issues were brought up by residents at a recent Meet the Mayor.
It was part of a program that new Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill instituted to touch base with residents. The event was held at the municipal building, in the same room where they hold Township Council meetings. However, there were probably a few more residents at the Meet the Mayor than there are at a typical council meeting. They fit as many residents as they could around a long table, and a few others sat in the regular seats. It was informal, with people bringing up issues and then a dialogue opening up.
For example, when someone mentioned the problem of speeders on one street in downtown Toms River, people started throwing out other street names where there’s a lot of speeding (Washington Street, Main Street, Dayton Avenue, and Messenger Street, for the record).
A few people complained about the construction department, and the need for more – or perhaps better – trained staff. Hill said he would look into personnel levels. He also said that there are a few trainers they might bring in.
Hill said that if someone has a bad experience, they might tell 30 people about it. But if they have a good experience, they might tell one person about it.
There has since been an online survey for people to see how people feel they were treated by workers and if they have suggestions. It is titled “How Are We Doing?” and can be found at tomsrivertownship.com/FormCenter/Municipal-Clerk-11/How-Are-We-Doing-68
One resident wanted to know about the possible purchase of the Surf Club, which was a nightclub in Ortley Beach until it was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. The town wants to buy the property for open space, and the owner wants to sell it, but the two parties can’t agree on a purchase price. The Ortley Beach Voters and Taxpayers Association has hired a mediator to help things along.
Melissa Morrisson, who ran unsuccessfully last year for a board of education seat, asked about school funding issues. Although she lives in Beachwood, her husband owns a company that is opening downtown, and they have children in the school system.
This led to a discussion about the funding formula which has reduced aid to districts like Toms River and increased aid to districts like Camden. A loss of a few million dollars is felt in a district like Toms River, but a big city can’t show where the millions of dollars actually go, some of the attendees said.
Recent meetings with Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who sponsored the aid change, have been positive, Hill said. He added he’s optimistic that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of school funding but said the fight is far from over.
When possible, Hill updated residents on current information. If he wasn’t aware of the situation, he said “I will check on that.”
