Council ready to settle dispute over park name
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

SAYREVILLE - A years-old controversy surrounding the name of the borough's waterfront park on River Road could soon be settled.

The Borough Council on Monday introduced an ordinance that would name the park in honor the late Ken Buchanan, something that the borough initially proposed following his death in 1991.

The new ordinance comes on the heels of complaints raised by members of the Buchanan family that, despite the fact that many people refer to the site as Buchanan Park, the park name was never made official.

Ken Buchanan's grandson, Councilman Daniel Buchanan, recused himself from discussion of the issue during the council's agenda meeting last week, due to his family connection to the matter.

In 1991, the park was going to be named after Ken Buchanan, who was one of the people responsible for getting the boat launch established there. During his 18-year tenure as a borough councilman, Ken was involved in various other recreational projects, including securing a grant to build Kennedy Memorial Park. He was also a veteran of World War II.

The Planning Board passed a resolution in 1995 recommending the property be named Buchanan Park, but for some reason the process ended there. Until this week, the council never took action to officially name the site after the late councilman.

The issue was met with some concerns from the Sayreville Historical Society, since the property was once part of land owned by the town's namesake, the Sayre & Fisher brick manufacturer. Society members said it was that company that brought industry and economic development to the area and helped make the town what it is today.

At the council's request, historical society President Carol Kadi reached a compromise with Lisa Eicher, the granddaughter of Ken Buchanan. Kadi said the compromise would place the name "Buchanan Park" at the top of the sign, but there would be a second section and other small signs around the park that offer information regarding the Sayre & Fisher operation.

Mayor Kennedy O'Brien said the Veterans Alliance is in charge of reviewing names for borough properties, but requested that the historical society draw up a list of historically significant names in need of recognition.

O'Brien also directed Borough Clerk Theresa Farbaniec to inquire about how other towns come up with names for their properties. He did not state any opposition to an ordinance naming the park after Ken Buchanan, but voiced concern with politics getting involved in the process.

"It is my personal belief about elected officials, that the honor itself is self-serving. There are countless [other] people who are not honored," O'Brien said.

But Eicher responded that her mother "went to her grave waiting for this promise."

Council President Thomas Pollando told Kadi and Eicher that he liked the compromise they had come up with and felt it should be pursued.

"It is long overdue," Pollando said.

Historical Society Treasurer Theresa Strek then told the council that a number of historical society members disagree with the compromise. However, the society met later last week and, though somewhat divided on the issue, voted to approve the compromise.

The council then introduced the ordinance at its regular meeting Monday, without discussion. A public hearing and possible adoption of the ordinance will be scheduled for next month.

Councilman Stanley Drwal noted during last week's discussion that there were similar problems with the naming of the Samsel Upper Elementary School, and attributed the issue to a general lack of knowledge regarding the borough's history.

"I work at a school," Drwal said. "I see more and more young people looking for a foundation."

Drwal asked Kadi if Sayreville's history is taught in the schools, and she replied that students in the fourth and seventh grades do learn about local history.

"I enjoyed learning these things," Drwal concluded, adding that the borough needs to "make sure [that the schools] institute these things, otherwise these name debates will mean nothing except to a couple of people."