Neighborhood Spat Spills Over to Gov't

by Dave Lieben

A dispute over landscaping and a fence led to a message being painted on a roof, which has led to involvement by the borough attorney, planning director, and borough manager, among others.

An April 29, 1999 memo from Borough Manager Georgianna Zimmerle to Borough Attorney Scott Brandt-Erichsen noted that the Assembly, acting as the Board of Equalization, asked what is being done about a messsage painted on the roof top at 713 Hill Road, in front of George Lybrand's residence at 731 Hill Road.

The memo asked Brandt-Erichsen to verify that the borough could not pursue enforcement action against the person responsible for the message under the existing code, and asked if it were possible to write an ordinance prohibiting the type of message that is on the roof.

In a May 21, 1998 memo, Brandt-Erichsen had noted that the message was not visible from the street, nor intended to attract the attention of people passing by, therefore was not covered by the borough's code on signs. He noted that the signs Lybrand was threatening to put up around town expressing his views on different subjects would probably also be legal, depending on their placement.

An April 24, 1999 memo from Planning Director Susan Dickinson said that Mr. Lybrand attributed remarks to her at the April 12 Board of Equalization meeting that she never made. Lybrand had stated Dickinson was friendly with the person responsible for the message, Leta Trask, Dickinson said she had never met her.

Dickinson said she has no first hand knowledge of what is painted on the roof, but had been told that it includes scripture and Lybrand's name.

Dickinson said she talked to Ms. Trask on the phone and told her that the borough encourages neighbors to get along with each other and asked how long the words would remain on her roof. Trask said the message was painted with interior latex and would wear off in about a year. Trask said no one should be offended by scripture. Dicksinson said she told Ms. Trask "One thing I know about people who like to read scripture is that they like to read it when THEY want to read it and not when they look out their front window," and reiterated that the borough encouraged people to behave in a neighborly way. Dickinson said "She did not respond to me and the conversation ended."

Trask's prediction that the paint would wear off is coming true, as parts of the message have eroded, making it difficult or impossible to determine what it originally said, although Mr. and Mrs. Lybrand probably have the "best" view from their second story window. There are also many brightly colored flowers painted on the roof.

A neighbor stated the dispute arose over the removal of trees along the property line between the properties due to the rerouting of a sewer line. It is believed that Ms. Trask no longer lives at the property.

It is not known if the Borough Assembly will address the issue at their meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Stay tuned.