Field complex named in honor of Pollando

Some cry foul
over dedication due
to upcoming election
BY JOLENE HART
Staff Writer

The Sayreville Athletic Association honored one of its most devoted volunteers on Saturday with the dedication of the Thomas V. Pollando complex.

Pollando, who is Sayreville Borough Council president and has been involved with local athletics since his arrival in the borough 33 years ago, was honored before a crowd on Little League opening-day at the baseball complex on Woodland Avenue.

"We came to see friends, old and new, and honor a good man, husband, father, neighbor and friend," said Pollando’s wife, Rosemarie.

However, accusations of political foul play soured the event for Pollando, and the debate has intensified in the days since the ceremony.

Councilman Thomas Marcinczyk has charged that the event was a political promotion for Pollando, who is seeking re-election to the Borough Council this November.

Marcinczyk will battle Pollando and newcomer Daniel Buchanan in the June Democratic primary election to determine which two candidates will be on the party line in November.

Marcinczyk said the dedication of the complex to Pollando was a blatant political promotion only 50 days before the primary.

Marcinczyk also took issue with announcements sent from the office of the Sayreville Democratic Organization last week, before word of the dedication event was widely known.

Like fans packing the stands at a sporting event, residents crowded into the municipal chambers Monday night to hash out the accusations. What followed was a commotion that left Frank Makransky, who was running the meeting in place of the absent Mayor Kennedy O’Brien, with little choice than to become referee.

"This reeks of politics," said Barbara Kilcomons of the dedication event. "I resent using children for politics."

"Nobody knows more about dirty politics than my family," Marcinczyk said, referring to what he has experienced during past campaigns. The statement prompted applause from members of the crowd.

Pollando’s supporters vowed he deserves the honor.

"Other than Mickey Sedlak, there is no one in this borough that has done what Mr. Pollando has done," said Sayreville Athletic Association trustee Jim Makowski. "This is political by no means."

"Tom dedicated the majority of his adult life to helping the children of this town," said association trustee Jerry Ust.

According to trustee and former vice president Joseph Tirelli, the trustees voted to dedicate the complex to Pollando in October 2003.

"I said to my wife, ‘You know, we always do things after people pass away,’ " Tirelli said.

The event was kept quiet until last week, Tirelli said, so that it would be a surprise. Tirelli said that last week he did send out letters from his communications company to borough officials announcing the dedication.

"I think it’s a shame that it got to this," he said.

"I’ve been a happy man just working for the children in this town," Pollando told the public. "I’d get up and leave my position right now rather than give up what I’ve done for children."

Some athletic association trustees were told that the name change needed to be approved by the Borough Council, though discussion at the council meeting on Monday revealed that the land is owned by the Sayreville School District and thus guided by the Board of Education. Several school board members were present at the dedication.

Concerns were also voiced from the public about the possibility that the names of the athletic fields would be changed. The council and borough business administrator assured residents that the names of the fields would remain.

"I’m the person that named the other fields," Pollando said.

The Woodland Avenue complex as a whole now bears Pollando’s name.

Pollando moved to the borough from Brooklyn in 1971 after marrying his wife, Rosemarie. Pollando said his brother-in-law played baseball in the borough and he took an interest.

Pollando said he started out as a coach, became a manager and then vice president of the Babe Ruth League. From there, Pollando estimates that he volunteered in nearly every other position in the association before becoming president more than 25 years ago.

He recalled when the Sayreville Athletic Association was formed from the union of the Morgan, Laurel Park and Sayreville girls’ leagues.

"He was involved in the athletic association 10 years before our son began to play," said Rosemarie.

"I had a tremendous upbringing," said Pollando, "but where I was there were no fields like this; there was concrete."

Pollando said he saw the development of athletics in the borough as a way to keep youth busy and give them opportunities to be part of a group.

According to association trustees, the sports leagues accept several hardship cases each year and allow children with disabilities, who may not be permitted to participate in other leagues, to join. The teams practice free substitution, according to the trustees, and allow all children to play regardless of athletic ability.

"I try to look out for that child, the one who may not get that opportunity," Pollando said.

The trustees of the athletic association were eager to speak on Pollando’s behalf.

"In all my years on the association, what was on Tom’s mind, and on our minds, was all of the children, not just a special group of kids," Ust said.

Ust recalled a time when the early directors of the association were trying to acquire new lights for the Woodland Avenue field, as the old lights were prone to blowing or even bursting in mid-game. The directors found that they could be reimbursed for much of the cost so that the athletic association would only need to contribute a few thousand dollars.

When the reimbursement didn’t come through on time, however, Pollando offered to get a loan using his home as security for the cost of the lighting, Ust said.

Pollando explained that he has remained president because being involved in the association allows him to "do more for Sayreville" and be a part of a group that he calls "the best people you can find."

"I have people that played for me and now their kids play for me," Pollando said.