Monmouth County Freeholders prevail in federal court. Will reschedule Curley’s Censure

UPDATED

Freeholder John Curley lost his bid in federal court today to prevent the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders from Censuring him and from updating the County’s sexual harassment and discrimination policy.

The Freeholders will reschedule the Special Meetings which were originally scheduled from this morning within the week.

Jonathan Testa, the attorney hired by the County to defend against Curley’s federal litigation, issued the following statement this afternoon: Read the rest of this entry »

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Will the Monmouth Dems Take Curley?

By Art Gallagher

Regardless of the outcome of Freeholder John Curley’s federal lawsuit to prevent the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders from Censuring him and to seal the investigative report into complaints of his harassment of County employees that he obviously believes will destroy his reputation, it is hard to imagine a scenario where Curley is nominated for reelection by the Monmouth GOP.

Curley’s term is up next year.  The Republican and Democrat Party nominees for the primary will be chosen by early April.

In his lawsuit, Curley alleges that the investigation and proposed censure is a “political hatchet job” by Freeholder Serena DiMaso.  The current mess does nothing for DiMaso politically.  Curley and DiMaso were successful running mates in 2012.  DiMaso is leaving the Board in January when she will be sworn into the State Assembly.  Nothing about this situation benefits DiMaso politically. Read the rest of this entry »

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Freeholders Postpone Curley’s Harassment Censure

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders have postponed the censure of Freeholder John P. Curley for harassing multiple County employees pending the outcome of proceedings in U.S. District Court in Trenton before Judge Brian R. Martinotti.

Curley filed a federal lawsuit against his fellow freeholders, County Counsel Michael Fitzgerald and County Administrator on Friday in which he asked the Court to issue a Temporary Restraining Order to prevent his censure.  Judge Matinotti did not issue the TRO but summoned the parties to Trenton for a conference on Monday morning. Read the rest of this entry »

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Curley’s Censure on Monmouth County Freeholders’ Agenda

Freeholder John P. Curley

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders will hold a Special Executive Session and a Special Public Meeting on Monday December 4 to discuss a resolution updating, expanding and reinforcing the County’s policy on the prohibiting workplace discrimination and harassment and a resolution of censure of Freeholder John P. Curley, according to a meeting notice obtained by MMM. Read the rest of this entry »

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Freeholder John Curley hires high powered attorney

Freeholder John P. Curley

Monmouth County Freeholder John Curley has hired Angelo Genova, Co-founding partner and Chairman of the powerful law firm GenovaBurns, to represent him in an unspecified matter that Curley apparently wants to keep from becoming public.

Genova sent MMM publisher Art Gallagher the following email at 8:21 p.m. on November 9, 2017: Read the rest of this entry »

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Monmouth County Honors Its Fallen Firefighters

The Fallen Firefighters Memorial was dedicated at the Monmouth County Fire Academy in Howell on Sunday morning during a moving ceremony that commemorated the courage of the 47 heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting the lives and property of county residents from 1881 through 2017.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Monmouth County Leaders Condemn Local Hate Speech

The Republican leaders of Monmouth County Government issued the following statement regarding the anti-Semitic and racist flyers posted in Asbury Park last weekend, as reported by The Asbury Park Press:

“It has come to our attention that racist, anti-Semitic, and hateful flyers were recently posted in the City of Asbury Park. Racism, anti-Semitism, bigotry, discrimination, or any type of hate have no place in Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Such conduct and speech is not consistent with our culture. We are a diverse county with people of all races and religions living together in harmony. These flyers do not reflect the reality of our communities.

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Brookdale Community College celebrates 50 years

Brookdale interim president David Stout celebrates the college’s 50th anniversary with Freeholder Director Lillian Burry and Freeholders John Curley and Serena DiMaso

LINCROFT – Brookdale Community College celebrated its 50^th anniversary on Tuesday with a birthday cake at the College of Visual Arts among well-wishers, County officials, and members of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), whose members were among the strongest advocates for a community college in Monmouth County half a century ago.

Dr. David Stout, interim president of Brookdale, led the brief program that included Freeholder Director Lillian Burry and freeholders John Curley and Serena DiMasa as well as Middletown Mayor Gerald Scharfenberger presenting resolutions proclaiming July 18, 2017 as Brookdale Community College Day throughout Monmouth County and in Middletown.  Stout presented framed copies of the original Monmouth County resolution establishing the community collegeto the freeholders and representatives of AAUW.

“The college today is an outgrowth of what came before us,” said Stout, who served as emcee for the birthday party program. “The history of Brookdale reveals that the college has its roots in the community. It is a true community college, in every sense of the word.”

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Monmouth Freeholders Budget Below 2006 Spending Levels

Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders have introduced a budget for 2017 that is $24.6 million lower than the 2016 budget and $11.8 million lower than 2006 spending.

The $445,250,000.00 spending plan will be the subject of public hearings on Thursday, March 9 at the Freeholders’ meeting to be held at the Monmouth County Library on Symmes Drive in Manalapan and on Thursday March 23 at the Monmouth County Library Eastern Branch at 1001 Rt. 35 North in Shrewsbury.  Both meetings are scheduled for 5 p.m.

The County’s property tax levy is budgeted to be $302,475,000, the same amount it has been for 6 of the last 7 years.

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Freeholders approve $35 million in bonds for Fort Monmouth acquisition

Freeholder John Curley, Deputy Freeholder Director Serena DiMaso, Freeholder Lillian Burry and Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders agreed to back up the acquisition of the 560 acres at Fort Monmouth that is not already controlled by the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) with a $35 million bond guarantee.  The Freeholders voted 4-1, with John Curley opposing the guarantee, at their meeting last night which was held in Ocean Township.

The Freeholders’ action enables the Monmouth County Improvement Authority to guarantee bonds issued by FMERA.  With the AAA bond rating of MCIA, the bonds will have the lowest interest rate available in the market.  FMERA will use the proceeds to purchase the land, valued at $90 million, from the Department of the Army for roughly $35 million.  The bonds will be secured by the land.

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