Councilman defends vote as fiscally responsible
Some have questioned my decision to vote against a bond ordinance ("Council Rejects $200K for Land Near Firehouse," Suburban, Dec. 20) at a recent Borough Council meeting. Quite frankly, I am surprised that one of my final votes as a councilman in Sayreville would cause such fanfare.

For me, the results of the recent election, both in Sayreville and around the state, were loud and clear. The voters of New Jersey are fed up with increasing property taxes and reject more borrowing.

So when an ordinance came in front of the governing body doing just that, borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars, I could not in good conscience support it. We must listen to the voters and spend within our means.

Allowing the borough to purchase a house, pay for its demolition and then fund the creation of a parking lot that will benefit only a small number of firemen is the very height of fiscal irresponsibility. The real needs of Sayreville residents, like adequate snow removal, should not take a back seat to pork-barrel projects.

I could not be a part of this extravagant waste of taxpayer dollars. If someday our governing body finds itself swimming in piles of money, we can then get in the business of private realestate acquisition, demolition and parking-lot creation. Until then, let's tighten our belts and listen to the voters.

Thomas V. Pollando

Member Sayreville Borough Council