Craig Coleman
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Top issues during term (20)
Fourth round affordable housing compliance and use of the affordable housing trust fund
Could satisfy the township's affordable housing obligation without giving away township land or spending taxpayer dollars.
Questioned legal and BlackRock bills
About $180,000 in questioned vendor payments, plus roughly $6,000 for the pulled litigation bill.
MUA commissioner health benefits
The mayor estimates up to $40,000 per member per year for a full family policy — about $7,000 an hour of meeting time.
Animal shelter closure and police staffing concerns
Residents continue paying on the former shelter's mortgage note while relying on outside facilities.
$9M bond ordinance transparency
$9 million appropriated, financed by $8.55 million in bonds and notes — debt that ultimately affects future tax bills.
Parking enforcement capacity
Assistant township attorney appointment dispute
Withholds any salary and benefits for the assistant township attorney position.
Council salary suspension dispute
Retroactive payment of withheld council salaries in an unstated total amount.
Warehouse development and wetlands at 1471 Lakewood Road
Parking fines and local parking restrictions
Higher parking fines would increase municipal fine revenue.
Sanctuary state opposition resolution
Speakers cited an estimated $7.3 billion annual cost of illegal immigration to New Jersey taxpayers.
2026 municipal budget adoption
The adopted budget sets the township's spending and tax levy for the year; property tax bills flow from it.
2026 municipal budget and flat tax rate
Avoids a roughly $300-per-home spike in the August quarter; total annual amount unchanged.
Downtown towers dispute and mayoral veto threat
The downtown project carried roughly $5.6 million in street and flood improvement grants and a prior $3.2 million motel acquisition, per the council president.
Stop signs at seven intersections
Refusal to pay Shore Media advertising bill
Unpaid bills can draw judgments against the township — plus potentially expensive federal litigation costs.
2025 annual audit certification
The emergency authorization line grew from $500,000 in 2024 to $3.25 million in 2025.
Mayoral vehicle use and 'official business' restrictions
The mayor says the vehicle is a taxable fringe benefit worth about $1,200 a year on his W-2; critics say the real cost exposure is far higher.
Germania Court vacation and Route 37 Wawa development
At least $250,000 a year in new tax revenue, plus construction and permanent jobs.
Walnut Street speed limit reduction
Decisions during term (114)
Recorded while Coleman was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of September 23, 2026 meeting minutes
Motion to table affordable housing ordinance (Item 6)
Motion to recess
Fourth round affordable housing ordinance (first reading)
Consent agenda items A-C (tax refunds, veteran exemptions, police ammunition)
Homes for All affordable rental agreement (Resolution D)
Department reports (Building Department, Recreation)
Approval of bills
RESOLUTION Of The Township Council Of The Township Of Toms River, Ocean County, New Jersey Authorizing Refunds And Cancellations Of Tax Payments
RESOLUTION Of The Township Council Of The Township Of Toms River, Ocean County, New Jersey Certifying An Entitlement Of A 100% Disabled Veterans Status For The Owners Of Various Properties To Be Canceled And/Or Refunded
Ordinance — increased parking fines (Item 7)
Ordinance — one-sided parking on Dayna and Sonoma Courts (Item 8)
Ordinance — no parking on Cattus Street municipal lot (Item 9)
Consent agenda balance (Items 10.A–10.D, 10.F–10.K, 10.M, 10.N, 10.O)
Item 10.E — performance guarantees, 1471 Lakewood Road
Floor resolution — void April 8 salary-suspension clause, retroactive pay
Floor resolution — disapprove Peter Pascarella appointment as assistant township attorney
Item 10.L — Stanley Ferriolo as JIF fund commissioner
Item 10.P — bidding-exempt service contracts
Department reports (Item 11)
Voting record (45)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Motion to table affordable housing ordinance (Item 6)
Motion to recess
Fourth round affordable housing ordinance (first reading)
Homes for All affordable rental agreement (Resolution D)
Approval of bills
Ordinance — increased parking fines (Item 7)
Ordinance — one-sided parking on Dayna and Sonoma Courts (Item 8)
Ordinance — no parking on Cattus Street municipal lot (Item 9)
Consent agenda balance (Items 10.A–10.D, 10.F–10.K, 10.M, 10.N, 10.O)
Item 10.E — performance guarantees, 1471 Lakewood Road
Floor resolution — void April 8 salary-suspension clause, retroactive pay
Said training deadline had already passed
Item 10.L — Stanley Ferriolo as JIF fund commissioner
Item 10.P — bidding-exempt service contracts
Said the title alone did not warrant tabling
Department reports (Item 11)
$9,000,000 bond ordinance tabled
Donald Burke legal bill (PO 03360) pulled
Unsure of the legal ramifications of not paying.
Ordinance approving pilot extension for Highland Plaza Affordable Housing Development (Block 537, Lots 23, 106, 107)
Ordinance amending the EMF-23 Multifamily Zone for Jamestowne Village (Block 610) — 42 affordable units
Tabling of Ordinance No. 8 (Lakewood Road affordable housing overlay), Resolution No. 9 (Route 9 development agreements) and Resolution No. 10 (55-acre open space deed restriction)
Concerned about the repercussions of not passing the housing package
Executive session resolution (item 7)
Authorize Archer & Greiner to enter Brillian lawsuit
Bond ordinance, first reading (item 8)
Adoption of FY2026 municipal budget (item 10)
Approval of May 27, 2026 meeting minutes
Resolution amending the 2026 introduced budget (Item 9)
Walnut Street speed limit reduced to 35 mph (final reading)
HB-MF Zone amendment at 2008 Route 37 (final reading)
Highland Plaza PILOT extension ordinance (first reading)
EMF-23 Zone / Jamestowne Village ordinance (first reading)
Consent agenda balance (minus E, M, N, U and Y)
Fireworks permit date change — Shelter Cove (Item E) — DENIED
Municipal Supervisors Association contract (Item M)
Purchase of 15 police vehicles (Item N)
Teamsters Local 97 'Blue Collar' contract (Item U)
Jamestowne Village settlement agreement (Item Y)
Departmental reports and bills list
Approval of April 22, 2026 meeting minutes
Stop signs at seven intersections (first reading)
Eliminating MUA health benefits — tabled indefinitely
The MUA is not on the township budget and contributes over $1 million a year to the township; taking members' benefits is improper.
Vehicle 'official business' ordinance (final adoption)
The vehicle is compensatory and the ordinance reaches into administration and police exceptions.
Germania Court street vacation / Wren Place extension (final adoption)
Certification of 2025 annual audit
Consent agenda (performance guarantees, veterans' status, liquor license transfer)
Pulling the Shore Media & Marketing invoice (PO 26-02071) from the bill list
Payment of Shore Media & Marketing invoice (PO 26-02071) — denied
The bill is for advertising services already rendered, so payment is required.