Mayor, Council At Odds As 2024 Begins In Point Pleasant Beach

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — A bitter primary election campaign has spilled over to the new year in Point Pleasant Beach, resulting in a fight over appointments for 2024.

The Point Pleasant Beach Borough Council reorganization meeting started with the swearing-in ceremonies for Douglas Vitale as mayor and council members Caryn Byrnes and Arthur Gant, and closed with a resident being removed from the meeting for shouting out criticisms and another resident singing "God Bless America" as people milled around afterward.

Rosa Crowley was voted in as council president.

Vitale defeated Councilwoman Arlene Testa, the choice of the local Republican Club to replace Paul Kanitra as mayor, in the Republican mayoral primary in June following a bitter battle. The primary decided the election as Vitale did not face a Democratic challenger in the general election in November.

On Monday, Vitale thanked the voters, saying, "Your support is not taken lightly."

"Your choice sends a clear message that the quality of one's character is what matters to the residents and taxpayers of Point Pleasant Beach," he said, promising to "lead with transparency and accountability."

"Open lines of communication with the residents and taxpayers will be the bedrock of our administration. I will always ensure every citizen has a voice in the decisions that shape our town's future," he said.

Vitale also praised the borough's employees, saying "their work is the absolute foundation of this town."

Among the issues Vitale said he will focus on is reviewing ordinances passed in the last few years to make sure they are serving the interests of the residents and businesses as well as those of the town; beach access concerns, and recreation, in particular expanding use of the bandshell.

"This town has become too restrictive for businesses and residents," Vitale said, and beach access needs to balance both access and safety concerns.

Vitale said he would look at the redevelopment projects that have been proposed in the last year to "see if it's really an asset or was introduced for political purposes."

He said he wants to see town officials "govern with respect for each other our residents and taxpayers," and promised that residents would be "treated with the utmost respect no one will be belittled or spoken down to."

Vitale also was critical of Kanitra, who he said did not provide any cooperation in the transition of administrations. Kanitra did not seek re-election as mayor when he was tapped to be one of the Republican Assembly candidates in the 10th District. John Catalano, who served one term, stepped down to run for mayor of Brick Township. Kanitra won the seat and is set to be sworn into the New Jersey Assembly on Jan. 9.

Vitale said he was left out of key meetings because of the conflict that developed when he decided to challenge Testa for the mayor's seat.

"Because of the strained relationship, I was not aware of his plans and initiatives," Vitale said. "I was forced to figure things out on my own."

He added that the conflict damaged what had been positive friendships that existed prior to the election, saying "a friendship that has transformed into bullying is no longer a friendship."

"I am prepared to stand up for what's right for this town and not let certain council members' agenda get in the way," Vitale said. "I have the voice and support of residents and taxpayers."

Vitale did not specify who he was referring to, but he and Crowley sparred repeatedly during the meeting as she, Testa, Byrnes, and Gant overrode all of his appointments.

Crowley said to Vitale that she and the other council members had sought to caucus with him before the reorganization meeting to discuss appointments, but Vitale had declined. "So we are giving our input now."

Vitale said he declined to meet with the council as a whole because he believed it to be a violation of New Jersey's Open Public Meetings Act, which says members of a governing body cannot meet in a quantity that equals a quorum without publishing a public notice of the meeting at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Crowley said she had discussed it with borough attorney Kevin Riordan, and Riordan confirmed, saying members of the same political party could "caucus" to discuss appointments without it violating the Open Public Meetings Act.

As Crowley made a motion to hire an employee in the clerk's office, Vitale objected, asking to take the issue to an executive session and hold off on the hiring. As he spoke, Crowley interrupted him, and that sparked an outburst from a resident who had been loudly criticizing Crowley throughout the meeting.

"Let the mayor speak," the man said, interrupting Testa. Police Chief Robert Kowalewski intervened and told the man he had to leave the meeting, to which the man objected. "For speaking my opinion?" he asked Kowalewski. On the way out the door, the man looked at Crowley and said, "You're a (expletive) joke."

Crowley began yelling saying he had threatened her and that she wanted a restraining order against the man.

The man continued to yell at Kowalewski in the hallway, and sounds of a scuffle could be heard inside the meeting room.

An email to Kowalewski sent Monday evening asking whether the man was arrested was not answered.

Crowley's hiring motion passed and the meeting adjourned not long after. As people milled around, gathering in groups supporting the two factions, one man began singing "God Bless America" loudly, though it wasn't immediately clear which faction he was supporting.

The meeting can be viewed here.

Note: This article has been updated to clarify Vitale was sparring with Crowley. Patch regrets the error.