Toms River municipal building. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Toms River officials appointed a new chief financial officer this week to replace Christine Manolio, who is retiring in June.
Sharon Smith, who currently serves as deputy CFO in Cherry Hill, will work alongside the current finance office staff until June, when she will assume the CFO role. Smith is a certified public accountant and teachers courses in municipal finance at Rutgers University, officials said.
Smith will earn $160,000 in the position, which raised some eyebrows among members of the council and the public at a meeting held this week.
Councilman Daniel Rodrick said he did not receive a copy of Smith’s resume before her appointment was placed on a meeting agenda, and questioned the salary, saying she earns $93,000 per year at the Cherry Hill post. That salary was disputed by Councilman George Wittmann, a member of the council’s Republican majority, who said the salary was “significantly higher” and her new salary amounted to an approximate 10 percent increase.
Public records show Smith earned $93,000 in 2015, the latest year for which the records were available.
Rodrick said with health benefits, the appointment could add up to $200,000.
“She may be perfectly qualified and an excellent candidate, but you’re asking me to vote on somebody I don’t know anything about,” he said.
“All three members of the committee supported her,” replied Wittmann. “She’s more than well-qualified for the position. The mayor and administrator did a very good job of vetting out candidates and she rose right to the top.”
Manolio earns $193,477 per year, plus benefits, between her base salary of $179,155 and longevity bonuses.
The council approved Smith’s appointment 6-1, with Rodrick saying he voted “respectfully no.”
