Censure Vote Set On Monmouth Freeholder Accused Of Sex Harassment

FREEHOLD, NJ — The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has announced a special meeting for Friday where the board plans to vote on the censure of Freeholder John P. Curley.

The notice distributed by the Monmouth County clerk's office said the board is convening an executive session at 2:30 p.m. and a special public meeting will follow at 4 p.m. in the freeholders' meeting room in Hall of Records at 1 East Main St, Freehold.

The announced agenda includes "a resolution to update, expand, and reinforce the Monmouth County policy on “prohibiting workplace discrimiination and harassment”; and a resolution of censure of county Freeholder John P. Curley by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Monmouth, State of New Jersey."

The censure vote has been expected since last week, when Curley filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against fellow Freeholders Lillian Burry, Serena DiMaso, Thomas Arnone and Gary Rich, along with Michael Fitzgerald, the Monmouth County freeholder board attorney, and Teri O'Connor, the county administrator.

The lawsuit claims both the investigation and a move to bar him from entering the county's Hall of Records are retaliation for Curley going after corruption. Curley cited his role in pushing for an investigation into the financial actions of the former president of Brookdale Community College, among other items.

The lawsuit also sought to bar public release of a report on a five-month investigation into sexual harassment claims.

A federal judge on Monday approved an agreement between attorneys for Curley and the county that has restored Curley's access to the building, and blocks release of the report, according to a report by the Asbury Park Press. In exchange, Curley agreed to drop efforts to stop the censure vote.

Details of the sexual harassment allegations have not been released, but Curley's lawsuit claims they stem from an off-color remark he made at a parade. Curley accuses DiMaso of making the allegations as a response to conflicts between the two, according to the lawsuit.

John Curley, photo via Monmouth County official government website