Former Toms River Councilwoman To Lead Town's Human Services Department

Toms River NJ

04 May, 2022

5:34 AM

Description

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Former Toms River Councilwoman Maria Maruca has been appointed director of the township's Department of Human Services. Maruca, who served on the Toms River council from 2004 to 2021, takes over for JoAnn Benson, who retired following a 36-year career working for the township, including 19 years as director. The human services department oversees the township's Senior Services programs and outreach, the Toms River Municipal Alliance, and the animal control facilities. Maruca had been the manager of the Toms River office of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission on Hooper Avenue for 10 years, and was executive director of the Seaside Heights Business Improvement District from 2000 through 2012. She also worked for her family's business, Maruca's Tomato Pies. Her salary in the position of director will be $90,000, the lowest end of the salary guide for the job and $42,000 less than the salary Benson was being paid, Mayor Maurice Hill said. "We're fortunate to have a person with Maria's compassion, management ability and leadership join the administration in this very important role," Hill said. "Maria is uniquely qualified to fill the very big shoes being left by JoAnn Benson. No one works harder than Maria nor advocates as strongly for the people she serves." Councilman Justin Lamb opposed the appointment, saying the position should have been opened up to applications and blasting it as a patronage hire and calling it bad optics, raising the specter of an FBI investigation into hiring practices by the Ocean County government. Council President Kevin Geoghegan said that under the Faulkner Act, the mayor appoints department heads and the council can vote to approve or reject them. "Under the Faulkner form of government, whether you like it or not, it's mayoral choice," Geoghegan said. Councilman David Ciccozzi praised the appointment of Maruca. "What she did for the town of Toms River for almost 20 years, showing up all the time, I think she's the perfect person for this position," he said. "It's been said time and time again, Maria was the hardest-working person up here," Council Vice President Matt Lotano said, adding that he felt that if she could handle managing the MVC office through the COVID-19 pandemic, she would be well-equipped to manage the human services department.