Concerns raised over use of town's mobile stage Investigation sought into decision to lend stage to concert venue BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer The mobile stage owned by the borough of Sayreville sits outside the Starland Ballroom for use at a recent outdoor concert. SAYREVILLE - The borough's mobile stage is at the center of a dispute, as local Republicans claim that it was lent to the Starland Ballroom without proper authorization. Ronald Green and Kenneth Olchaskey said that as taxpayers in the borough, they were concerned when they saw the concert venue using the borough's portable stage for an outdoor show recently. Olchaskey is the former chairman of the Sayreville Republican Party, while Green is the current party chairman, and both are on the borough Environmental Commission. The two men said they went to borough hall and asked who authorized the transport and use of the $75,000-plus stage, which is typically used for the town's fireworks displays and parades, but were told there was no official correspondence on the agreement. Olchaskey told the Suburban that an agreement should have been approved at a public meeting so that residents could be given a chance to comment. "We want the answers," Olchaskey said. Borough Recreation Director Gerald Ust wrote in a guest column to the Suburban that the stage was lent to the Starland Ballroom in recognition of the venue's contribution to Sayreville's Fourth of July celebration. Ust said the business provided the borough with security, musical acts and sound equipment during the event at Kennedy Park. The borough allowed Starland Ballroom to sell beer, soda and water at the Fourth of July celebration in exchange for the services that it provides to the municipality, Ust said. Green, a retired police lieutenant in Sayreville, called for an investigation by the Police Department or the state Attorney General's Office. He said someone other than Ust authorized use of the stage by a private company. "They took borough workers to take it up there, set it up and move it back," Green said. Olchaskey said his and Green's concerns over this issue have nothing to do with politics. He questioned why the borough should be helping out a private business, especially one as large as AEG Live, the new owner of Starland Ballroom. "Why should we subsidize this company?" Olchaskey asked. Borough Council President Thomas Pollando, a Democrat, said there was no wrongdoing on the borough's part. "[Olchaskey and Green] could do whatever they want to do," Pollando said, adding that the agreement was upfront and put in writing in May. In general, he said he would like the borough to recoup the money it spent to buy the portable stage by renting it out, as Middlesex County does with its portable stages. Pollando said that the agreement reached between Ust and the Starland Ballroom allowed Sayreville to get $12,000 worth of entertainment for its Fourth of July celebration. "It was the greatest Independence Day we ever had," Pollando said. "That being said, I am going to introduce an ordinance on [Aug. 6] that will allow us to rent out the stage." Pollando thanked Tony Pallagrosi of the Starland Ballroom for his contributions to the borough. "Tony Pallagrosi has been a great guy for the borough," Pollando said, noting that the Starland Ballroom has "been a great neighbor here in Sayreville and we really do appreciate what they have done." Pollando said there was no "personal gain" for anyone involved in the stage agreement. "Jerry Ust has given us the best Independence Day celebration we could have possibly asked for," he said.