Thursday, October 1, 2026
After more than a month of leadership uncertainty, the Village of Atlantic Beach has chosen a new mayor.
Barry Frohlinger, who was elected to the board of trustees in June 2024, was sworn in as mayor at the village’s monthly meeting on Aug. 4.
The office became vacant when Mayor George Pappas resigned on July 2. Pappas, who had overseen village government since 2014, stepped down just hours after Atlantic Beach agreed to settle its ongoing lawsuit with the Chabad of the Beaches for $950,000.
The new board now faces several unresolved issues, including an 87 percent property tax increase announced by Pappas’s administration at a special meeting on April 30, and a preliminary civil investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice into the village and its bylaws, following the receipt of a letter from the department on June 18. Village officials at the meeting said they were cooperating fully but could not provide further details.
Frohlinger is the only remaining board member from the previous administration. Trustee Patricia Beumont did not seek re-election, Trustee Anthony Livreri resigned on May 28, and Nathan Etrog lost his seat in the June 17 election, when new trustees Laura Heller and Joseph Pierantoni won seats on the board.
Frohlinger said he looked forward to serving the village and providing residents with steady leadership.
“We put out a message to the residents, and there are the six guiding principles that are going to guide everything we do,” he said. “I think the fact that we will be reviewing the guiding principles all the time, I think the residents are going to feel comfortable when they read and understand the guiding principles that guide us as we go forward.”
The message he referred to is a statement from the village notifying residents of the leadership changes. It read: “During this period of transition, the Board of Trustees pledges to provide steady, principled leadership focused on the well-being of our community. Every decision will be made with: Professionalism and adherence to the law, transparency, including clear explanations of pros, cons, and risks and resident engagement, ensuring your voices guide our actions.”
The statement also listed the six principles, which Frohlinger said would be reviewed regularly: transparency and accountability, safety and reputation, resident engagement, fiscal responsibility, rule of law, and collaborative leadership.
Under both village and state law, the board was required to agree unanimously on a mayoral nominee. In his first act as mayor, Frohlinger nominated Peter Millius to the board, to fill the seat he vacated, a move that was approved by Pierantoni and Heller. Both Frohlinger and Millius will serve until next July 6.
Millius said he was excited to be part of this new era in Atlantic Beach government. “It is a wonderful time for us to turn over a new leaf,” he said. “I am really happy and proud to be a part of it. I really hope that everything I do can help result in a better village, happier neighbors, everybody getting along, and help preserve this really wonderful paradise that we have.”
The dozens of residents in attendance showed their support for both men. Kevin Kelley, of Atlantic Beach, a retired journalist and an occasional Herald contributor, said that while he would have preferred a special election, he was happy with the outcome.
“(Frohlinger) was the first person to really challenge the mismanagement of the board’s finances and the lack of transparency,” Kelley said. “I’m pleased with his performance; I am glad that he has become mayor. I think it has all worked out as well as you could possibly hope for it to work out.”
Following public comments, the board noted that one board seat remains vacant, and said it would continue a thorough and deliberate process to fill it.
Have an opinion on the new leadership in Atlantic Beach? Send a letter to mberman@liherald.com.
