Lakewood, NJ - Turmoil and Crisis in Town Hall

Lakewood, NJ - Shortly before Township Committeeman Charles Cunliffe walked into town hall, where he spoke against the firing of Police Director Al Peters, he was informed of an effort to kick him out of office.

A group calling itself the Committee to Recall Charles Cunliffe has filed a notice with the municipal clerk's office, the first step in a recall campaign. "It hasn't quite sunk in yet," Cunliffe said.
Fellow Committeeman Raymond Coles said that he suspected the people behind the recall effort are developers, angered by positions Cunliffe has taken. "I think it's a ridiculous move," Coles said.

The recall effort and the firing of Peters highlight what many residents have been saying for weeks: that turmoil in town hall is reaching a fever pitch, and Lakewood is in crisis. "I've never seen it like this before," said Coles, referring to the churning turn of events.
The Township Committee voted 3-1 to fire Peters, the township's third police director since 2003. Mayor Meir Lichtenstein and Committeemen Menashe Miller and Robert W. Singer voted to remove Peters. Coles was opposed, and Cunliffe abstained because his daughter is a member of the police force. Cunliffe said he was angered by the ousting of Peters, who he described as a victim. "It's unconscionable what they (other committee members) did," Cunliffe said.