Opening of Barrier Island Building Dept. Office Delayed

The opening of a Toms River Building Department office in the Ortley Beach section of the township has been delayed, officials said.

Officials had intended to open up the barrier island office by Nov. 1, but its opening has been pushed back – likely to January – since there are current not enough people on staff to man a second office.

"We need to be able to staff it adequately, and we have to add staff to be able to do that," said Township Administrator Paul Shives. "When we get over there, it can’t just be clerical staff."

Services provided by the building department include engineering, planning, zoning, conservation, community development, construction services, affordable housing and code enforcement. It also provides building and electrical permits to residents and administrative services to the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Environmental Commission.

Though Jan. 1 is the target date for the office to be ready to open, Shives said officials are hoping it can be open even sooner.

"Right now, with the workload we’ve had, it was impossible to get people there by Nov. 1.," said Shives.

In September, the township purchased $64,241 worth of software and equipment in order to open the office, which will be located in the municipal annex near A&P.