Alan M. Augustine Dies Following Long Illness by PAUL J
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 111th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 40-111 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, June 14, 2001 Since 1890 (908) 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS Alan M. Augustine Dies Following Long Illness By PAUL J. PEYTON member of the Scotch Plains And FRED ROSSI Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Township Council. For 10 years, he was a running Alan M. Augustine, a veteran mate with State Senator and now on the state, county and munici- Acting Governor Donald T. pal political landscape, lost a long DiFrancesco. The two also worked bout with cancer Monday morn- together when Mr. Augustine was ing at the Father Hudson House, a member of the council and Mr. a hospice facility in Elizabeth. DiFrancesco was Township At- He served in the Assembly from torney. December 1992 to March 31 of nd “New Jersey has lost an out- this year, representing the 22 standing legislator whose com- District, which includes passion, dedication and expertise Westfield, Scotch Plains, were respected well beyond the Fanwood and Mountainside. boundaries of Union County and Mr. Augustine was well-known the 22nd Legislative District,” the not only for his 20 plus years in Acting Governor said in a state- elected office but also for his ment issued by his office on Mon- witty sense of humor and for his day. sense of compassion for others. “Alan showed a genuine con- Legislative Aide Joanne Ward, cern for people and demonstrated who worked for Mr. Augustine his sincerity in many ways, in- for five years, commented that cluding his attendance at just about she “admired and respected As- every community and political semblyman Augustine greatly.” David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader event to which he was invited,” Horace R. Corbin for The Westfield Leader “His favorite quote from the HE MADE A DIFFERENCE...Assemblyman Mr. DiFrancesco stated. Bible was, ‘May you come upon Alan M. Augustine attended the “Make A Dif- ALL THE WORLD LOVES A CLOWN...On Saturday, children greeted a colorful clown who came to celebrate the ference Day Walkathon,” sponsored by the His other running mate, As- official grand opening of The Town Bank of Westfield at 44 Elm Street. Mayor Gregory S. McDermott cut the ribbon to me when I am doing good’. And semblyman Richard H. Bagger, signify the opening of the business. During the festivities, the bank granted a donation to the Westfield/Mountainside he was a man who could always DECA Chapter of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in October 1996. A champion for stu- commented that, “Alan was abso- chapter of the American Red Cross. The funds will be used to purchase new mannequins for CPR training. be found doing good,” Ms. Ward dents’ issues, Mr. Augustine enacted legisla- lutely dedicated to public service. stated. tion for their safety and well-being. He was in political service for all His Chief Legislative Aide for the right reasons.” seven years, Nancy Malool, said Westfield resident Pamela S. Citizen Parking Committee Expected Mr. Augustine was not a typical boss; from the Assembly, his seat was filled McClure noted that Mr. Augustine by Tom Kean, Jr. he was a friend who was available day “worked for the underdog,” ranging or night. “He was always there for me; “Alan represents the highest ideal from his law requiring helmets for always caring.” She said he repre- for public service that I’ve seen in a children when riding scooters to his To Complete Report By End of Month long, long time,” Mr. Kean said, not- sented the “epitome of a good person.” wheelchair lemon law which pro- By PAUL J. PEYTON ing that Mr. Augustine was always deck of between 600 and 800 spaces, Diddell of Elm Street, an engineer in She said Mr. Augustine was one of tects consumers when buying motor- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader with a cost ranging from $8.7 mil- the construction business and staunch her biggest supporters when she opted interested in “making a difference in ized wheelchairs to his lemon law A citizens advisory parking com- people’s lives.” lion to $11.5 million. opponent of a deck at Elm and Pros- to begin law school a few years ago. for cat and dog purchases. mittee, consisting of individuals both “He will be sorely missed in Tren- “People think this (a deck) is a pect, and retired Union County traf- “There will never be anyone like He served on the Union County in favor and opposed to a downtown done deal,” the Mayor stated. “Cer- fic engineer Walt Gardiner of Scotch him again,” she added. “He was one ton,” he added. Board of Chosen Freeholders from parking deck, is expected to com- Mr. Augustine was also well- tain people may think that this (the Plains Avenue. of a kind.” 1982 to 1987 and from 1991 to 1992. plete its discussions by the end of the known for the 20 years he spent as a committee) is strictly a delay tactic. Also on the committee are Floral Upon Mr. Augustine’s retirement Mr. Augustine served as Chairman in month. But I don’t think I’ve ever been given Court resident Bruce Long, a traffic 1987 and Vice Chairman in 1982 and The group was organized by Mayor the answers that I wanted to get and consultant; chemical engineer Jim 1986. Gregory S. McDermott, who said he these people are going to do that for Boyes of Ferris Place, an opponent The one person who may have wanted to get some answers on me.” of an Elm and Prospect deck; Joseph known him best during his Free- Westfield’s parking woes as the town Andy Cataldo, an attorney and Elm Spector of Prospect Street, owner of holder years was his secretary at the slowly moves forward on enhancing Street resident, heads up the 12-mem- The Leader Store and former Down- time, Mary Krech. parking in town. ber committee which has been meet- town Westfield Corporation Chair- “He was a genuinely kind indi- The committee’s discussions are ing Wednesday nights and Saturday man; DWC Executive Director vidual,” said Ms. Krech, who said continuing as the town moves ahead mornings since early May. Sherry Cronin; Westfield Planning Mr. Augustine especially enjoyed with a number of parking strategies. Mr. Cataldo is joined by Jay Board Chairman Robert L. Newell county projects that involved chil- including the search for a firm to run Troutman, a professional traffic en- of Clark Street; Westfield Area Cham- dren, senior citizens and the mental a valet parking system out of the gineer; Joe Malley, a New York City ber of Commerce Executive Direc- health community. “He was always a South Avenue train station lot and a banker who resides on Roosevelt tor Debbie Schmidt, and Bill champion for those who couldn’t possible commuter jitney. Avenue; Boulevard resident Charlie Reinhardt of Harrison Avenue, a help themselves,” she said, noting Last summer, the council agreed Weidman, who has expertise in the member of previous parking com- that Mr. Augustine’s door was al- to lots 1 and 8 at Elm and Prospect finance area and is an opponent of a mittees who has expertise in munici- ways open to people of both political Streets as the location for a parking South Avenue parking deck; Eric CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 parties. “He never played politics with people. He was a non-partisan repre- sentative,” she remarked. She men- Parking Mgr. Expected to Be Named tioned that Mr. Augustine ironically died at the Father Hudson House in Elizabeth, which he helped to get off Tuesday Night By Westfield Council the ground through a grant issued by By PAUL J. PEYTON the freeholder board in the 1980s. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Avenues. included in the town’s ordinance re- Mr. Shannon noted that residents stricting such practices. One firm Mr. Augustine was named to the The town’s search for a parking State Assembly in December 1992 to have complained of poor visibility reportedly begins pickups as early as manager is expected to end with the when trying to negotiate turns onto 2 a.m. replace Bob Franks upon Mr. Franks’ hiring of a successful candidate by election to Congress and was elected Broad Street. That ordinance, adopted in 1993, the town’s governing body this Tues- Laws and Rules Committee Chair- was overturned by a Superior Court to four additional terms. As an As- day, June 19. semblyman he sponsored 26 laws, man Carl A. Salisbury, who repre- judge after a few disposal companies Westfield Town Administrator sents the First Ward, announced that went to court to challenge the re- including a recent law to create a Thomas B. Shannon told Mayor Gre- three-year statute of limitations on the committee would soon take up striction. The judge determined that gory S. McDermott and the Town the issue of start times for trash haul- only the state has jurisdiction over the collection of fines on unpaid Council at Tuesday’s conference parking tickets. ers operating in town. such matters. meeting that he interviewed the six A new state law, sponsored by Mr. Salsibury said the committee He sponsored another bill that cre- semifinalists for the newly-created ated a task force charged with assess- Assemblyman Richard H. Bagger will look into reviving the town stat- position this week and will interview of Westfield, enables towns which ute through introduction of an up- ing the risks that drivers incur while the two or three finalists tonight. Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader their attention is diverted by cellular do not contract for residential dis- dated ordinance.