Holmdel’s Human Relations Committee Won’t Issue Final Report

HOLMDEL, NJ - An ad hoc human relations committee in Holmdel has decided against issuing a final report consisting of recommendations for township committee members to weigh.

During an April 27 meeting of the Holmdel Township Committee, founding member Deputy Mayor Cathy Weber noted that the group - which is composed of elected officials and constituents - could not come to a consensus on recommendations and thus will not issue a final report.

The ad hoc human relations committee formed in 2020 following controversy over the thin blue line painted on Crawfords Corner Road in 2016. To some, the blue line represents support for law enforcement, although others interpret it as representative of an "us vs. them" mentality that furthers tensions between police and citizens.

A preliminary report issued in February by the group called the thin blue line painted on Crawford Corners Road a symbol appropriated "by white supremacists groups … making some members of our community feel unwelcome and even threatened."

"Regardless of the town's original intent, it is clear that the line means something different today to many. The symbol has been appropriated by white supremacists groups and the Blue Line now has the effect of making some members of our community feel unwelcome, and even threatened, in Holmdel. The HRC finds this impact unacceptable. It should not be ignored that the blue line flag was carried alongside Confederate flags and Nazi insignia by the insurrectionists who breached our nation's Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020. The HRC therefore recommends that the Holmdel Township Committee abstain from maintaining Holmdel's Blue Line," the report reads.

"When it comes time for the section of Crawfords Corner Road that contains the blue line to be repaved, we recommend to the governing body that the blue line not be replaced. We advise that our roads only be marked for the purposes of traffic safety.”

The report also called for the restoration of Holmdel's historic African American cemetery, the implementation of regular town hall meetings and the creation of a summary of Holmdel's relevant policies to combat bias-based policing in addition to the phase-out of the blue line once Crawfords Corner Road is repaved.

Weber later issued an apology for the statement regarding the blue line, noting that she had “listened to significant feedback since the report was released and understand that the some of the language was hurtful to many and not consistent with the goal of creating unity … for that, I apologize. It was never my intent to create harm to anyone but rather to make sure everyone had a voice. I will recommend to the committee that the final report not include the blue line and we focus on action items that can increase ties in our community.”

The group consists of Weber, Holmdel Police Capt. Frank Allocco, and Township Administrator Cherron Rountree, as well as residents Sarrah Buker, Francine Campis, Hannah Friedman, Carey Goldson, Michael Nikolis, Robert Shearer and Rev. Dr. David C. Bocock.

Municipal documents noted that the committee was created "to foster and promote good will, cooperation and conciliation among all inhabitants of Holmdel Township, including facilitating the mediation of cultural problems and incidents of bias."

"This committee will be charged with making recommendations to the Mayor and Township Committee for the development of policies, procedures and programs that will aid in the prevention and elimination of all types of discrimination including discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry or marital status," read a 2020 post announcing the formation of the committee on the township municipal website.