Post by Marc LeVine on Oct 24, 2006 9:09:15 GMT -5
Brian recently ran into Jack Shea for the first time and asked me who is is. Jack has been a key member of the Human Relations Committee since it's founding. Here is a 2005 APP article on that committee's past goals.
January 13, 2005
APP
Group to mull plan list Human relations panel setting motives for year
MATTHEW KIRDAHY/Staff Writer
STAFF
In its three-year existence, the Freehold Human Relations Committee has dealt with pressing local issues. Now the committee is looking ahead to establish goals for 2005.
Committee Chairman John Shea, who has been with the group since its inception, said the committee will review a list of goals for the new year at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 in borough hall, 51 W. Main St. The committee meets the first Tuesday of every month.
The committee held its first meeting of the year Jan. 4. Shea had served as committee vice chairman until this year. The organization serves as a forum for residents to discuss anything pertaining to life in the borough.
"The committee brings new perspective to things," Shea said in a Jan. 5 phone interview. "One of the things we struggled with during the first couple of years was the development of a mission statement. Finally, we agreed upon one last night. That's a big milestone for us."
Committee members include August Daesener, Roger Kane, Sydney Blacknall, the Rev. Frederick Parrish, Cecilia Reynolds, the Rev. Andre McGuire, Rabbi Ken Greene, Marc LeVine, Jim Keelan and Councilman Kevin Coyne, who serves as the council representative.
Shea said a Freehold police officer also has a role on the committee, but a replacement for last year's officer has yet to be named.
In the future, Shea said he is thinking of a way to offer the committee's help to residents through the Freehold police. He said the Police Department could distribute information about the committee to residents who call to resolve a dispute with their neighbor. As the committee has in the past, Shea said it could mediate a discussion between the residents to reach a solution.
Shea said the two largest issues the committee has dealt with have been the immigrants gathering at the muster zone in Freehold and traffic at a local synagogue. Shea said that since the muster-zone issue went into litigation, fewer people have addressed it at the meetings.
"That was the paramount thing in the last year and a half," Shea said. "We were sort of inadvertently brought into the fray with the muster-zone issue."
About two years ago, the committee handled a dispute between residents and parents whose children attend the Freehold Jewish Center, Shea said. People who lived near the center had complained that parents, who were parking in a line of cars to pick up their children, were blocking driveways. She said residents appealed to the committee for a solution and the committee mediated the dispute.
"We're trying to help people communicate more effectively," Shea said. "We haven't heard any complaints since. Periodically, I'll drive by to see how it's going and there isn't anyone blocking driveways."
January 13, 2005
APP
Group to mull plan list Human relations panel setting motives for year
MATTHEW KIRDAHY/Staff Writer
STAFF
In its three-year existence, the Freehold Human Relations Committee has dealt with pressing local issues. Now the committee is looking ahead to establish goals for 2005.
Committee Chairman John Shea, who has been with the group since its inception, said the committee will review a list of goals for the new year at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 in borough hall, 51 W. Main St. The committee meets the first Tuesday of every month.
The committee held its first meeting of the year Jan. 4. Shea had served as committee vice chairman until this year. The organization serves as a forum for residents to discuss anything pertaining to life in the borough.
"The committee brings new perspective to things," Shea said in a Jan. 5 phone interview. "One of the things we struggled with during the first couple of years was the development of a mission statement. Finally, we agreed upon one last night. That's a big milestone for us."
Committee members include August Daesener, Roger Kane, Sydney Blacknall, the Rev. Frederick Parrish, Cecilia Reynolds, the Rev. Andre McGuire, Rabbi Ken Greene, Marc LeVine, Jim Keelan and Councilman Kevin Coyne, who serves as the council representative.
Shea said a Freehold police officer also has a role on the committee, but a replacement for last year's officer has yet to be named.
In the future, Shea said he is thinking of a way to offer the committee's help to residents through the Freehold police. He said the Police Department could distribute information about the committee to residents who call to resolve a dispute with their neighbor. As the committee has in the past, Shea said it could mediate a discussion between the residents to reach a solution.
Shea said the two largest issues the committee has dealt with have been the immigrants gathering at the muster zone in Freehold and traffic at a local synagogue. Shea said that since the muster-zone issue went into litigation, fewer people have addressed it at the meetings.
"That was the paramount thing in the last year and a half," Shea said. "We were sort of inadvertently brought into the fray with the muster-zone issue."
About two years ago, the committee handled a dispute between residents and parents whose children attend the Freehold Jewish Center, Shea said. People who lived near the center had complained that parents, who were parking in a line of cars to pick up their children, were blocking driveways. She said residents appealed to the committee for a solution and the committee mediated the dispute.
"We're trying to help people communicate more effectively," Shea said. "We haven't heard any complaints since. Periodically, I'll drive by to see how it's going and there isn't anyone blocking driveways."
