TOMS RIVER - Toms River Regional Superintendent David M. Healy's $10,150 merit bonus has been approved by the Board of Education, with board members Christopher Raimann and Ginny Rhine voting "no."

"This remains a contractual obligation of this district," Board President Russell K. Corby said, noting the bonus was part of Healy's contract, approved by the board of education last year. The vote was Tuesday.

Since the superintendent achieved — and actually exceeded —- the goals set for him, the board is obligated to authorize his merit pay, Corby said.

Corby and board members Daniel Leonard, Gidalty "Gigi" Esparza, Janet Bell and Michele Williams voted to approve Healy's merit pay, which he earned by achieving annual performance goals agreed to by the school board.

School referendum postponed:Toms River Regional postpones multimillion-dollar referendum for school repairs

Toms River Regional partners with Count Basie:Count Basie Center will bring at least 20 shows to Toms River arena

Board members Joseph Nardini and Michael Horgan abstained, saying they had a conflict.

The "merit performance payment" is included in the superintendent's contract, which enables Healy to increase his $203,000 base salary by achieving annual performance goals agreed to by the school board.

Healy's merit pay for the 2017-2018 school year totaled 5 percent and included:

Securing at least $50,000 in additional "alternate" revenue, including grant awards, corporate sponsorships and an increased number of events; 1.5 percent of base salary, or $3,045. Healy noted he brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars of alternate revenue last year.

Ensuring satisfactory progress of the district's Energy Savings Improvement Program, including providing a dedicated web page to give updates on the program; 1.5 percent of base salary, or $3,045.

Determining the priority projects for the district's planned facility repair and improvement referendum, scheduled for Jan. 22, 2019, and communicating details of the referendum to the community; 2 percent of base salary, or $4,060.

Two days after Healy's bonus was granted, the board announced that referendum will be postponed, so that district officials could concentrate more on lobbying the state to restore $2.3 million in state aid for next year.

More:Toms River Regional postpones multimillion-dollar referendum for school repairs

Salaries of superintendents who supervise districts with more than 6,500 students were initially capped at $175,000 by former Gov. Chris Christie in 2011. Christie raised the cap to $191,500 last year, and allowed school chiefs to earn merit bonuses of up to 15 percent above that.

Parents petition for school aid:Toms River Regional: Parents' petition demands more school money from NJ

Fire under investigation:Toms River auto shop fire under investigation

The bonuses were instituted to prevent a mass exodus of superintendents who could leave for nearby states where they can earn higher salaries.

Superintendents were also allowed to earn an additional 2 percent annual increase if they accepted a new contract in a district where they already serve.

Healy, 57, of Middletown, was appointed Toms River superintendent of schools in April 2014. He initially was given a five-year contract that was not set to expire until 2019.

But last year, the school board approved a new contract for the superintendent that will extend his tenure in the district through the 2021-2022 school year.

Healy was paid a base salary of $203,000 in the 2017-2018 school year, and will make the same salary 2018-2019, under the terms of his contract. The contract entitles him to make up to 5 percent of his salary in merit bonuses during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years.

Last year he received a $9,900 bonus, and he will be eligible for another $10,150 in merit pay next year if he achieves goals approved by the board at Tuesday night's meeting.

The 2018-2019 goals include bringing in at least $100,000 in alternate revenue; working with the school community, local advocacy groups and local and state officials to address Toms River Regional's state aid cuts, while working on a plan for the district if the cuts aren't restored, and using new digital tools, professional development and monitoring to create better opportunities for students.

Rascals' Gene Cornish to perform in Toms River:Gene Cornish of the Rascals is recovering, first show back scheduled for Toms River

Healy will not be eligible for merit bonuses during the final three years of his contract. He noted that while the state allows superintendents to earn annual bonuses of up to 15 percent, his contract limits merit pay to 5 percent of his salary.

One of the alternate revenue streams Healy helped bring to the district is a new partnership with the Count Basie Center for the Arts that board President Corby discusses in the video above this story.

Raimann, who voted against Healy's contract extension in 2017, is running for re-election this year as one of six candidates seeking two seats representing Toms River on the nine-member regional board.

Identity theft:Toms River identity theft victim: Bank of America held my $1,800 hostage

His "no" vote on Healy's merit pay was questioned by former board member Robert Onofrietti Jr., who lost a re-election bid in 2017 but is running again this year.

He asked Raimann how he could vote against merit pay that is included in the superintendent's contract.

"I voted against his contract," Raimann said. "We have a financial crisis in this district. I stand by my vote."

"You can't breach his contract," board member Leonard responded.

Leonard has in recent weeks been regularly bashing Raimann on social media, including his personal Facebook page and his "Team Leonard" Facebook page, created for his anticipated re-election run next year.

Related:Where's K-12 education headed in NJ?: New school chief answers

Leonard frequently refers to Raimann as "Raimarosa," a seeming reference to President Donald J. Trump's former political aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, who resigned from her White House job in January and later wrote a book, "Unhinged," which is deeply critical of the president.

In June, the board authorized filing an ethics complaint against Raimann with the state's School Ethics Commission. The reason for the still-pending complaint has not been publicly disclosed.

South Toms River resident Anna Polozzo, who is running against Esparza in the race for a seat on the school board, said board members are obligated to pay Healy the merit bonus.

"A contract is a contract. The board voted on it," Polozzo said. "You achieved them, and you should be paid for them."

But Jennifer Howe, who is Raimann's running mate, was critical of the superintendent's merit bonus.

"There is no money," she said to Healy. "Just because something is going to be given to you doesn't mean you have to take it."

Jean Mikle: 732-643-4050, @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com