You just never know what's going to happen at a municipal meeting.
The Feb. 7 meeting of the West Marlborough board of supervisors started out as usual: call to order, approval of minutes from the previous meeting. But then it came time for public comment, and Stuart Allen, who lives in the 500 block of Street Road, stood up and read a fiery multi-page letter accusing the township officials of incompetence and playing favorites when it turned down his request to fell some trees on his property. After his impassioned and sometimes sarcastic 42-minute speech (an audience member timed it), his wife added that all she wanted was to have a pretty front lawn like so many of her neighbors, but the trees didn't allow enough sunshine in for grass to thrive.
The supervisors were taken aback, as they had no part in the denial of his request.
"This is the first we've heard of this," said supervisor Bill Wylie, adding that the board heard his complaints "loud and clear" and wanted to resolve them. "I'm glad you felt comfortable coming in tonight."
"Call me," said the township's zoning officer, Al Giannantonio, "and we can set up a meeting. I want to sit down with you."
As the tension abated, Mr. Allen said he hated being combative but was so frustrated that he felt he had no option other than confronting the board.
"I'm really a nice guy," he explained.
"So are we," quipped supervisor Mike Ledyard.
I feel that the Board, they approved the zoning and hired the engineer, probably heard about this when the application was made and denied years ago. At every monthly township meeting the engineer gives a report on his activities during the month concerning appproved and/or denied zoning permits.
ReplyDeleteI was at the zoning hearing when he wanted to have horses on his property, and there was no question that he just didn't have enough acreage for them. But the tree issue was a new one to me. I don't remember ever hearing about it.
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