After only seven months on the job and just six weeks after being reappointed, Guttenberg Police Director Frank Criscione suddenly resigned last week.
In a resignation letter dated Feb. 12, Criscione cited “ongoing business and professional engagements,” as the reason for his resignation. He also stated in the letter, “It was a privilege and pleasure to serve in the town.”
Criscione, a former actor and freelance writer, was hired to replace former Police Director Tom Richards last July at a part-time annual salary of $30,000. Although Criscione had no prior police experience, Mayor David Delle Donna believed that Criscione, a former member of the township’s Housing Authority – a department now headed by Criscione’s wife, Barbara – was a good fit for the position.
“But he found out that the position was much harder than what most people expected,” Delle Donna said. “Frank did a good job, but he doesn’t do anything halfway. I had no regrets when we hired him and I have no regrets that we re-appointed him [in January]. At the time, he was kind of hinting that he might want to get back into acting and go back to school. We just now have to find another director.”
Criscione did not return phone calls by press time.
The resignation comes a few weeks after it was revealed at a recent Board of Education meeting that Criscione and his wife are still residing in the township’s federally subsidized housing, despite the fact that the couple was earning more than $120,000 in an annual combined salary. Barbara Criscione, who is also the president of the Board of Education, is earning a salary of $90,000 as the director of the Housing Authority. When they moved into the apartment, the Crisciones met the financial requirements to live in the township’s housing projects. However, their combined salary now puts them over the maximum salary.
“I don’t know what is in Frank’s mind, but in my personal opinion, I don’t think it has anything to do with it,” said Delle Donna, who considers the Crisciones “close friends.” “As far as I know, they’re in the process of moving, so they won’t be in the [public] housing much longer.”
Delle Donna said that he is not in favor of promoting from within, which means that Lt. Joseph Gryzbowski, who is currently heading the police department, probably will not be named as police chief in the future.
“I am very much not in favor of hiring a police chief,” Delle Donna said. “One of the main reasons is cost. The last time we had a police chief [Richard Fogarty in 1997] he earned more than $100,000. But that’s not the only reason. There are pensions and salary structures to consider. Most municipalities are shying away from police chiefs and hiring civilian directors.”
Delle Donna said that the difference in salary between a police chief and a police director results “in hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
“In a small town like Guttenberg, we need to cut costs any way we can,” Delle Donna said. “We have very few revenues coming in. My job is to consider every option.”
That wasn’t good news to Gryzbowski, who has been handling both roles since Criscione’s resignation.
“I’ve spent 22 years on the force and 28 years with special police service included,” Gryzbowski said. “I would definitely be interested if I were to be considered. I think we need a position like a police chief to give officers something to look forward to down the road. Right now, there’s no room for further advancement.”
The Guttenberg police department has one lieutenant, six sergeants, and 17 regular police officers.
Delle Donna said he will advertise the position to find a suitable replacement for Criscione. “We’ll evaluate the candidates and hire the person that will best compliment the police department,” Delle Donna said.