Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick filed a lawsuit Friday, October 30, 2026, against the township’s own Municipal Utilities Authority, seeking to end what he calls patronage health benefits worth roughly $227,250 a year for seven politically appointed commissioners. The suit, filed in Ocean County Superior Court at 4:35 p.m., names both the MUA and all seven commissioners as defendants and argues their compensation packages blow past a local cap of $2,000 per year for authority board members.
According to Shore News Network, Rodrick is suing individually as a municipal taxpayer and utility ratepayer, alongside the Township of Toms River itself. The complaint, filed by attorney Donald F. Burke of Brick, New Jersey, leans on Township Ordinance § 71-1f(1), which limits compensation for an authority board member to no more than $2,000 annually, while still permitting additional pay for someone who holds a separate, valid appointment as an authority officer, agent or employee. The lawsuit argues health insurance, pension contributions and other economic benefits should count toward that $2,000 ceiling unless a commissioner holds one of those separately appointed qualifying roles.
Central to the case is the MUA’s adopted 2026 budget, which the lawsuit says lists all seven commissioners receiving $2,000 annual stipends on top of individually budgeted estimated additional compensation — figures that add up to roughly $227,250, or $241,250 when the stipends themselves are included. Per the complaint, these budgeted amounts are estimates rather than verified payments actually disbursed.
A Dispute That Has Simmered Since 2020
Commissioner Medical Enrollment The MUA confirmed to Shore News Network that six appointed officials are currently enrolled in medical plans: Valvano, Brilliant, Pascarella, Braaten, Ellenbogen and Sevastakis…