'Hostility and disdain': Toms River mayor, animal shelter supporters in showdown deadline

TOMS RIVER - Leaders of a successful petition drive aimed at reversing the decision to turn Toms River's animal shelter over to the county say they have "been met with hostility and disdain" by Mayor Daniel Rodrick, when trying to schedule a meeting to discuss alternatives to the county takeover.

In a prepared statement, the petitioners' committee, which includes one of Rodrick's 2023 running mates, Councilman Thomas Nivison, noted that Township Clerk Michael Cruoglio certified that the petition contained more than the required 3,079 signatures at the June 26 council meeting . That means the council had 20 days to rescind an ordinance leasing the shelter to the county for $1 a year, or the measure will be placed on the ballot as a referendum question for the public to decide.

The deadline is Tuesday, July 16, the petitioners said.

Rodrick said that if the petitioners try to force a referendum on the fate of the animal shelter, they will simply be delaying the building's reopening. "I'm not going to allow it to be shut for six more months so we can have a vote in November," the mayor said, adding that he had made an executive decision that the township was no longer going "to be in this business. It's a waste of tax dollars." He insisted again that having Ocean County operate the facility would be better for the animals.

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"I'm all about getting it open for the animals," Rodrick said, adding, "The people chose me because they knew I would be willing to make tough decisions for the betterment of the whole community."

He has previously said that the township can enter into a shared services agreement with the county to operate the shelter, thereby making the ordinance adopted by the council unnecessary. The council would have to vote on such an agreement.

"Despite submitting a formal request to Council President (Craig) Coleman to discuss a viable alternative solution for the Toms River Animal Shelter that could save taxpayers the cost of a referendum election, the committee was met with a dismissive and insulting response," the petitioners' statement reads.

"The committee’s proposal aimed to provide a solution that would turn a yearly profit, removing the burden from the taxpayers, while also ensuring necessary and required animal care and control services to the residents of the Greater Toms River area," the statement continues. "However, Mayor Rodrick responded with a blunt and uncivilized message, stating, 'I have absolutely zero interest in meeting with you. You bring nothing to the table.'"

'We are extremely disappointed and frustrated'

In April, Township Council members voted 4-3 to lease the shelter to Ocean County for $1 a year . The board of health agreed in May to enter negotiations to take over operations at Toms River's shelter, with board members noting they were approached by the township to run Toms River's shelter.

The petitioners said that since Rodrick has indicated he has no interest in meeting, and Coleman has not responded to their request for a meeting, they will move forward with urging all residents to support a referendum to repeal any potential lease between the county and Toms River that would allow the county to operate the shelter.

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"The committee will remind council members that Ocean County Board of Health has already stated at their May 8, 2024, meeting that if the residents of Toms River are successful in their petition to protest this ordinance, they will not enter into a lease agreement to operate the shelter," the committee said.

"We are extremely disappointed and frustrated by Mayor Rodrick's response," said the committee. "We believe that our proposal would have presented a viable alternative solution that would benefit both the community and the taxpayers. Instead, the law will send the question to a referendum election, which will likely result in additional costs for the township residents."

The mayor had previously said that money was not the issue with his plan to close the animal shelter, given that there was a $1 million donation left to the animal shelter by a resident, who also left a large donation to the Ocean County animal shelter. Instead, Rodrick has said, the animal shelter was poorly run and there had been complaints about its operations for several years.

The petitioners' email was sent by Philip Brilliant, one of the petition drive leaders; he and Rodrick have a particularly contentious relationship that has included the mayor mocking Brilliant for the past bankruptcy of his environmental firm.

'This is about what's best for the animals'

"This is not about money," the mayor insisted in late February. "This is about what's best for the animals." The mayor also insisted earlier this year that he had no plans to close the shelter, which was shut down on June 6, when almost all employees, including animal control officers and kennel aides, were laid off.

The most senior animal control officer, Dave Matthews, was kept on, and Rodrick's administration hired private firm A-Academy to supplement animal control at a maximum cost of $44,000 a year. Council members, led by Nivison, had previously tabled a resolution to hire A-Academy, but Rodrick said the company was hired by Toms River's purchasing agent as the annual cost was below the township's bid threshold. It did not require council approval, the mayor said.

Rodrick has said he never meant that the shelter would not close down for renovations before the county takes over; for example, the Toms River shelter, located on Oak Avenue next to the police department, has no dog runs where dogs can be turned out to play or burn off excess energy several times a day. Instead, employees at the shelter were walking and socializing dogs outside; the county is expected to build dog runs at the shelter and do other renovations before reopening it.

Petitioners and animal advocates have said that the shelter had turned a corner by 2023, with better management, and have disputed Rodrick's contention that the facility was dirty and poorly run when he visited it for the first time after being sworn in as mayor in January. They have expressed concern that more stray dogs and cats would be euthanized if Ocean County shelters become overcrowded, and added that the township taxpayers are still paying the mortgage on the building, which was opened in 2014.

It replaced a much smaller shelter that had operated for many years on Whitesville Road.

The animal shelter issue has caused a rift between Rodrick and Nivison, a farmer with several rescued animals whose wife was volunteering at the Toms River facility before it shut down.

At the June 26 council meeting, Nivison again pleaded with Rodrick to reconsider his stance on the shelter.

"Dan, I just want to ask you, and I said this to you, the first time the shelter thing came up, this could be the biggest win for you or the biggest loss," Nivison said. He said he did not agree that the shelter was poorly run before Rodrick's administration shut it down in early June.

Rodrick said he appreciated Nivison's comments.

"The shelter will reopen under better management," he said. "You will have a chance to vote on it."

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and writes about issues related to Superstorm Sandy. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle,  jmikle@gannettnj.com .

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: 'Hostility and disdain': Toms River mayor, animal shelter supporters in showdown deadline