By Jonathan Cronin
John McCrystal, 68, deputy police commissioner and storm and hurricane commissioner, was named to replace Mr. Connors as trustee by Mayor Stephen Mahler at the village board meeting on Monday. Janice Goorland, who was elected to the board in June, was named deputy mayor.
After sitting through his first meeting as trustee, Mr. McCrystal said he finds every facet of village business interesting, from building applications to beautification reports.
"It's quite an honor and, of course, exciting," Mr. McCrystal said of his appointment. He said he was one who had opposed the re-opening of AJ's and Friends restaurant, a source of irritation to neighboring homeowners, and that as part of the board, he was hoping to see through to completion the condominiums planned on the former restaurant's property.
"He's a good man," said Mr. Connors. "He's got a lot of fight in him. He'll be a good trustee." As for Ms. Goorland being named his successor as deputy mayor, Mr. Connors said, "That is great. Janice is good. She would have been my appointee."
On Dec. 1, Officer Dom Stanganelli of the Fourth Precinct reported that officers observed Mr. Connors weaving in his pick-up truck on Park Street in Atlantic Beach, pulled him over, smelled alcohol on his breath and administered a standardized sobriety test. He failed, the report said, and was arrested.
Mr. Connors told the Herald a completely different story. He said that on that Friday evening, he was putting up Christmas lights on his home. Then, after taking medication for anxiety and depression, he said, he went to Chez Peter's, which is six blocks from his home in Atlantic Beach, consumed two strong drinks, felt sick and got back into his pick-up truck. At that time, he said, he blacked out. Mr. Connors said that he woke up after realizing he had hit something in the road, which turned out to be another vehicle. He also realized he was driving into oncoming traffic. He said he turned down a side street , saw an Atlantic Beach security car and headed toward it. Then, according to Mr. Connors, a man whose name he said was James Taska, the owner of the car he had hit, approached his car and they spoke.
Mr. Connors said that he was experiencing leg pain and an ambulance was called. He was taken to Long Beach Hospital, he said, where he was treated for the pain and where he was arrested by police for DWI. Mr. Connors refused to have his blood-alcohol level tested, he said, and as penalty his license was suspended.
On Dec. 8, he said he appeared in court and the suspension on his license was lifted. He is to appear in court on Feb. 6 to face his DWI charge.
A spokesperson from the Nassau County district attorney's office said she could not comment because the case was still pending.
Of the resignation he tendered three days after his arrest, Mr. Connors said, "I was going to leave anyway. I didn't want to leave this way, but I was definitely going to leave." He said he had spent five years on the board and was tired and needed a break.
"Everything is quiet here," he said. "The village is in good hands. I'm not needed."
At the village meeting Monday, Mayor Mahler said he regretted having to accept Mr. Connors' resignation. He told residents in attendance that Mr. Connors needed time to sort out personal problems. He also said Mr. Connors had done some "very good work on the board. You could always count on him."
Ms. Goorland was even more emphatic in her praise. "Mr. Connors was an excellent trustee," she said. "I hope he finds peace on his new road in life."
The Mayor said new trustee McCrystal has always been excited to be involved in village affairs and carries out all tasks with enthusiasm.
"He's put his time in," new Deputy Mayor Goorland said. "He knows what is going on in the village. I believe we can work together as a board."
