While the appeal meeting got the ax Monday, the Dahlia Street junkyard discussion took center stage in the regular Southmont Borough Council meeting that was held.
I arrived early with my son, who tagged along because he thought it all might be entertaining. He wasn’t disappointed, nor was I.
Charlie Brown arrived early, too. Offered the chance by me to say all the harsh things in person that he’d promised in a since-deleted Facebook post that he would say/do if only I would ignore his no trespassing signs and pound on his door, Charlie passed. He did compliment me on my writing ability. What a guy.
Charlie was videoing the whole thing. I hope he posts his profane tirade that had the council member running the meeting at that point pounding her gavel like Buddy Rich’s snare drum. The attending police at one point urged Charlie to tone it down and First Amendment rights were cited, plus Charlie offering up both wrists as to be handcuffed.
Familiar?
Another council member noted that there is a certain decorum that must be maintained in public meetings. Charlie disagreed.
It was a nice turnout and those who came only to have their individual concerns addressed, left wide-eyed.
The guy next to me, who attended in search of a handicapped parking spot, and to lament neighbors constantly having “bonfires,” at one point during a Charlie Brown rant rolled his eyes. Maybe his neighborhood is not so bad after all.
Those familiar with the story can skip this paragraph. Journalists used to be trained to recap background just to get first-timers up to speed. Along that line, a “paper alley” was being claimed as a driveway by one property owner. Another property owner wanted access using it. The dispute moved to court and it was ruled that no one can annex one of these alleys that exist on road plans, but have not been finished. And the alley must be opened. This led to a derelict car (more on this later) and a growing number of trailers being parked on Dahlia Street in protest.
There was plenty of testimony on both sides of the issue during open-comment sessions, which deteriorated into back-and-forth instances of charge and countercharge.
A man who was identified as the husband, then the ex-husband by Charlie’s mother, proposed all could be fine again if the paper alley was just given to his family. So, just give me everything I want and I will be happy.
Join the crowd.
I’d like a million dollars or so, if anyone wants to make me happy. No takers? Oh, well. Doesn’t hurt to ask.
At one point, there was an argument about whether or not that decrepit Corvette moored on Dahlia could start and be driven around the block. My son offered Charlie $50 if it could.
Charlie responded with a couple of single-finger salutes, punctuated with an offer to have sex with my son.
Maybe that will be on the video? The offer. Charlie’s not my son’s type.
At one point of a heated harangue, a guy (Charlie’s dad?) tried to tug him back to his seat from behind, with Charlie swatting away the guy’s hand.
A member of council demanded that the police begin an investigation of an e-mail he alleged that Charlie Brown had sent to numerous borough officials, invoking the name of Marvin Heemeyer.
It was Heemeyer, unhappy with city health ordinances in Granby, Colo., who armored a bulldozer and destroyed several buildings in 2004. Heemeyer committed suicide when his bulldozer became stuck in a hardware store he was attempting to raze.
The council member saw this email as a threat and demanded it be on the record and be investigated.
Eventually, regular business was addressed and then the audience was invited to leave so that an executive session could be held.
Bottom line: Southmont Borough council did nothing regarding the matter that had brought so many people to the room. Maybe next month?
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