Report: Morristown GOP chair protects Dem leader, prevents fracas at housing meeting

Morristown Housing Commissioners Vera White, Dorothy Holman, Mary Dougherty and Frank Vitolo. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Morristown Housing Commissioners Vera White, Dorothy Holman, Mary Dougherty and Frank Vitolo. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
9
Morristown Housing Commissioners Vera White, Dorothy Holman, Mary Dougherty and Frank Vitolo. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Morristown Housing Commissioners  (from left) Vera White, Dorothy Holman, Mary Dougherty and Frank Vitolo before things really heated up last week. Vitolo stepped between Holman and Dougherty, according to a report Dougherty filed with police. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

 

By Kevin Coughlin

Republicans and Democrats may not get along in Washington. But the spirit of bipartisanship is alive and well in Morristown, where the local GOP chairman was willing to take a punch for his Democratic counterpart.

At least, that’s what the police report suggests.

Last week’s heated meeting of the Morristown Housing Authority overheated behind closed doors, where Commissioner Dorothy Holman tried to take a pop at Commissioner Mary Dougherty, Dougherty said in a harassment report she filed with police the next day.

Dougherty, who is the town’s Democratic chairperson and wife of Mayor Tim Dougherty, told police that Commissioner Frank Vitolo stepped between the two women.  Vitolo is the town’s GOP chairman.

WATCH VIDEO FROM THE MEETING

During the open portion of the meeting, Holman, 64, repeatedly had challenged Mary Dougherty’s credentials and demanded she resign.

Mary Dougherty, 54, had asked questions pertaining to Holman’s travel expenses to distant conferences, on an evening when authority Executive Director Roy Rogers disclosed a federal investigation without revealing its subject.

Holman and fellow Commissioner Vera White claimed they are targets of a “witch hunt” because they are African American.

‘SHUT UP’

According to Dougherty’s report to Officer Bruce Lafera, Holman’s “personal attacks” and “loud and boisterous” behavior continued when the meeting went into closed session.

Dorothy Holman challenges Mary Dougherty's credentials for Morristown Housing Authority. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Dorothy Holman challenges Mary Dougherty’s credentials for Morristown Housing Authority. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Some three-and-a-half hours after the gathering convened, Dougherty finally told Holman: “Shut up.”

“It was at this point that the suspect abruptly pushed her chair back, and lunged at the victim in an aggressive manor [sic],” the police report states.

Vitolo, sitting next to Dougherty, “was able to intercept the suspect before any physical contact was made,” the report says.

Holman did not respond to phone messages seeking comment on Tuesday.

Reached for a comment, Vitolo told Morristown Green: “I’ll let the process play out.”

While no criminal complaint has been filed, “It was important that the incident was documented appropriately,” Mary Dougherty said, declining further comment.

Rogers, the housing authority director, characterized the tenor of the executive session as “argumentative,” but said he missed the main event because he was focusing on his agenda items. “I did not get a good view” of the altercation, he said.

‘INAPPROPRIATE AND UNCALLED FOR’

MHA Commissioners Mary Dougherty and Frank Vitolo, who chair the Morristown Democratic and Republican committees, respectively. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
MHA Commissioners Mary Dougherty and Frank Vitolo, who chair the Morristown Democratic and Republican committees, respectively, during quiet moment at housing authority meeting. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

For years, Holman, affectionately known as “Dimples,” has supported Mayor Dougherty. Holman’s daughter, Toshiba Foster, was elected to the town council running on the Mayor’s ticket.

The rift between Holman and Mary Dougherty comes as a Republican council candidate is mounting a challenge in the Second Ward, where African American residents traditionally have backed the Mayor.

“Mary is her own person, a Commissioner appointed by the Town Council and does not need me to defend her,” Mayor Dougherty said in a statement.

“But I will say that from what I have heard, the personal attacks on my wife were inappropriate and uncalled for. Mary is a public servant and for years has volunteered for many different causes and community projects.

“Volunteerism should be encouraged and commended and everyone should keep that in mind when dealing with members of boards and authorities, because they are just people who have chosen to take time out of their lives to volunteer. I am not going to get involved in the specifics of the Housing Authority controversies and will leave it for the Town Council to address.”

MORE ABOUT THE MORRISTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY

9 COMMENTS

  1. It seems as though everyone is pointing the finger at everyone else. We need to reevaluate where we stand as a commUNITY.

  2. I want everybody can’t forget that day that Roy and the people helping him they was trying to sale the Resident center for Manhattan Village to corner stone inc and everybody were trying to get dirty money

  3. Can some buddy tell me why the 4 th floor at the town hall in Morristown NJ is owned by Chocolate company why private company businesses in side a government building

  4. I can’t Believe what I’m seeing And what I’m hearing it’s crazy we are in 2015 and the Athourty worry about the position more then they worry about the people residents they are suffering and they living with Missy inside their apartment and this money should be spend to fix The apartment or Grow more grass or develop programs for the people the Athourty in a position as a leader should help the community so they can live butter I’m glad that Washington is involved and I hope for change

  5. Who ever thought that Vera White would play the Race Card?
    I guess when you get caught spending a ton of money on the taxpayers dime you need a flimsy
    Excuse.
    The information they received could have been obtained in Atlantic City at the League of Municipalities
    Convention, for about $500 dollars.
    No need for pulling CARDS. Just let the issue play itself out.

  6. The Self-Proclaimed “First Lady of Morristown” ‘s face could rival Hillary’s after being caught with her hand in the proverbial cookie jar. Priceless.

  7. To much is going on. To much is going to be exposed. Everyone needs to keep this behind closed doors. To many people are going to get hurt. Jail maybe.

  8. D. Holman and Co. very afraid of what is going to be uncovered. Claims of witch hunt and racism are not going to help when Feds going to start investigation.

LEAVE A REPLY