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Mayor: 'Ortley Beach is Known as Ground Zero'

Mayor says residents need to mentally prepare themselves for devastation

Column as submitted by Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher: I  want to remind all Toms River residents that plans are currently underway for barrier island residents to get back into their homes as soon as feasibly possible.   I don't know that our residents fully understand the devastation that Hurricane Sandy has had on our beach community. Ortley Beach is known as Ground Zero.   I think our residents need to mentally prepare themselves for what they'll see.  Landmarks are not there anymore.  Parking lots have had their asphalt ripped apart and literally thrown to the other side of the street.  Houses have no staircases.  Many homes were pulled from their foundation and are leaning on the dirt.  Many homes are not structurally sound to even …

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Toms River Mayor Updates Hurricane Sandy Issues

Mayor announces updates for important issues in Toms River

The following information as submitted by Mayor Tom Kelaher's office overnight: TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP- While Town Hall is closed due to lack of power, officials are working around the clock to aid residents.  Toms River Township Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher has made a list of immediate priorities for the residents affected by the storm.  Mayor Kelaher will send out periodic updates, so please check the website often. FEMA Kelaher says, “My number one priority is to have all residents who have damage to their homes, contact FEMA as soon as possible, starting right now. The Federal Emergency Management Association has declared New Jersey as a major disaster area, which means that residents are entitled to Federal funding to help recover and rebuild…

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bob Larosa

10:51 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012

I agree compelety with your comments. We should have the exact same detail as Lavallette. What is the plan for visiting my house! We need to shut the water....Has anyone contacted American Water? Mayor we need a PLAN NOW!   more ›

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Mayor Explains Toms River Police EMS Changes

Unit moves under direction of township OEM

A recent message from Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher regarding the shift of the Toms River Police EMS from the police department to the Toms River Office of Emergency Management.

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Toms River Hiring Additional Police

Mayor explains vacancies, application process

Column as submitted by Mayor Thomas Kelaher: In previous articles, I have explored the operation of our township by highlighting our various departments such as our Public Works Department and Parks, Buildings and Grounds.  In this issue I would like to write about the Toms River Police Department. Toms River is the seventh largest municipality of 565 municipalities in the State of New Jersey and as such requires a police department capable of handling the responsibility of patrolling 44 square miles from the beaches on the barrier island to the western edges of the town at the Manchester and Lakewood Township boundaries.  Included within that 44 square miles are approximately 400 miles of township roads and approximately 200 miles of …

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Mayor: Toms River Parks Worth Highlighting

Mayor itemizes some of the park features in Toms River

Column as submitted by Mayor Thomas Kelaher: In my last article I highlighted the activities of our Public Works Department.  In this issue I would like to present our Department of Parks, Buildings, Grounds and Public Lands.  This department, of course, has township wide responsibility; as set forth in its title to be responsible for all township properties.  The obligation to look after our parks, in particular, is somewhat extensive and I would like to list all of the parks that come under the jurisdiction of this department:  The department has the obligation of maintaining the physical condition of all of the above mentioned parks; such as lawn mowing, fencing, lighting, security, maintenance of equipment such as swing sets, tennis …

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Rearranging Payroll Duties Saves Township Thousands Monthly

Change came after outside contractor upped the cost it charges Toms River for payroll administration

The township is saving $14,000 a month after dropping its contract for payroll administration and deciding instead to have township staff take on the task. Toms River Township Administrator Paul Shives said the costs of administrating the township’s payroll nearly took a dramatic hike, which lead staff to shop around for a better deal. And the better deal would be to rearrange the accounting department to handle payroll administration itself. Shives said the previous contract was with TD Bank, which had handled the township’s payroll services for $150,000 a year. “We had a long-standing arrangement with TD Bank that they would include the costs for the township payroll services, at a cost of $150,000 year,” Shives said. “They would honor …

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From the Desk of Mayor Kelaher

Approaches Township used to create its budget

The Township has been struggling to hold down taxes by implementing as many innovative programs as possible.  Toms River has been proactive by entering into shared service agreements with adjacent municipalities and other governmental agencies within the area.   In addition to cost savings through shared services, Toms River has instituted: One highly cost-effective example of a tax savings program that has been implemented in Public Works is our new recycling program that features a “single stream” recycling process.  This innovative procedure allows the township to use a single can (robocan) per household to accept all recyclables; paper, cardboard, cans, glass and plastics.  The recycle cans can be picked up by the mechanical arm of the…

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Martin

8:20 am on Friday, June 24, 2011

Whaaaaa??? Please explain your comment, Zero.   more ›

Send in the Plows

Toms River plows rolled out 11:30 p.m. Wednesday; county promises its roads clear by 1 p.m. today

As six inches of snow were dumped on Toms River overnight, and students enjoy a snow day, plows again roll in a rush to clear streets of the evidence of the area's sixth snow storm this season. “The sun’s coming out, by noon or 1 p.m. everything should be nice and black,’’ Ocean County Road Supervisor Stephen F. Childers predicted early Thursday, after crews worked throughout the night to clear the latest snowfall from 620 miles of county roads.  At 8 a.m. he said 90 to 95 percent of that road network was plowed and passable. The rest would be within the hour, Childers predicted. The storm that dumped an average of 7 to 8 inches across the county hit first in Plumsted and Jackson townships, where rain, sleet and hail turned first to snow…

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UPDATE: Approximately 3 inches of snow create slippery conditions

Mayor confirms salt trucks began work at 10 a.m. Jan. 8.

It’s slippery.  Secondary roads are slick in throughout Toms River, drivers reported, but salt trucks had already mobilized, officials said. Mayor Thomas Kelaher confirmed salt trucks were out spreading de-icer and salt on municipal roadways since 10 a.m. Jan. 8 when he spoke to Public Works Director Louis Amoruso. The National Weather Service predicted 3 to 6 inches for the region, with a snow advisory in effect until 10 p.m. Kelaher said crews begin plowing only after at least four inches is on the ground. “Otherwise, the plows tear up the roads,” said the mayor. Toms River Patch observed that at 10:30 a.m., Jan. 8 secondary roads and side streets such as Briar were slick, but that main roads such as Cedar Grove Road, Brookside, Clifton …

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Joseph Hyer

3:45 pm on Saturday, January 8, 2011

We all need to remember that four wheel drive is great, but it doesn't change the weather. It's slick. Four wheel drive helps, but you still need to drive as cautious as everyone else.   more ›

Officials: 98 Percent of Toms River roads plowed once or more

Mayor confirms 20 more trucks contracted to help provide additional passes, work expected through Wednesday evening.

Officials said yesterday evening that 98 percent of the town's streets received at least one pass from plows, as trucks, front loaders and bull dozers continued to work overnight and into today, Wednesday. Mayor Thomas Kelaher said plowing efforts were slowed by the bulk of the task, which crushed axles and transmissions of equipment -- township snow equipment as well as contractor's. Some contractors the town is using, experiencing expensive damage to their plows and other vehicles, left. "Some contractors have left. They simply didn't want to wreck their equipment," Kelaher said. He added that yesterday evening, Toms River Public Works Director Louis Amoruso confirmed 20 additional trucks and crews were contracted to help complete …

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