Asbury Park Press
March 9, 2005
By Andrea Alexander
HAZLET — Paul Coughlin has resigned as mayor following his arrest on an extortion charge, but will not step down from the Township Committee, his attorney notified township officials.
The committee called for Coughlin's resignation Feb. 22, the same day he was arrested in an FBI bribery sting.
A letter sent by Coughlin's attorney, Michael Pappa of Hazlet, on Thursday said Coughlin was stepping down as mayor, effective immediately. An accompanying statement from Pappa said the resignation "should not be considered as an acknowledgement of any criminal wrongdoing."
"In the end, it comes down to how to put this town in the best possible position to grow as a community without any question as to its leadership," the statement said.
Committeeman Scott Aagre said officials were concerned that Coughlin's continued service would be a distraction as the committee tries to accomplish its goals for the year. The committee will select a new mayor at the next meeting, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, he said.
"We have to make sure township business runs smoothly," Aagre said. "We want to make sure that anything that keeps thoughts on misdoings is not there for the public."
The committee is in the process of finalizing plans to build a new town hall. Officials also plan to begin work soon on improvements to Veteran's Park, Aagre said.
Coughlin was charged with accepting a $3,000 bribe in return for a promise to help a contractor secure municipal work, including the demolition of the old town hall. The contract for the work was granted to another company. Pappa said Coughlin plans to plead innocent.
"I don't want him to resign from the committee," Municipal Republican Party Chairman Steve Grossman said. "It is his right to stay there. . . . He is not guilty until he is proven guilty. I am willing to let the system play out."
West Long Branch Mayor Paul Zambrano on Friday became the first township official nabbed in the sting to resign from elected office. In West Long Branch, the mayor is directly elected by voters, whereas in Hazlet the Township Committee appoints one of its members as mayor.
