[ back ]
Claridon trustee, zoning inspector exchange charges
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - September 23, 2009)
Claridon trustee, zoning inspector exchange charges
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Claridon Township Trustee Mary Briggs was served with a notice of zoning violations, but she said the notice has more to do with politics than with any violations.
"He's playing politics and being selective with the zoning," Ms. Briggs said of township Zoning Inspector Martin Pesek. "He's just getting on his bully pulpit."
Mr. Pesek said he only was doing his job in responding to complaints he had received about violations.
According to the notice, Ms. Briggs violated the zoning law by storing junk vehicles outside of an enclosed building and having a sign within the required 40-foot setback from the roadway.
Ms. Briggs denied both charges and said she plans to appeal the matter to the township's zoning board of appeals.
In a report to trustees last week, Mr. Pesek said he was approached Sept. 5 while at the Great Geauga County Fair by two residents who questioned campaign signs for Ms. Briggs that were posted in the township. The two residents also questioned whether several unlicensed vehicles were being kept outside at her home.
Mr. Pesek said he drove to Ms. Briggs' home on Sept. 8 and saw a pickup truck at the end of her drive that had a "huge sign" on it. "I expressed to her the thoughts of the residents that had complained of her campaign signs and the junk vehicles," he said.
Mr. Pesek said he could see several vehicles, some with their hoods up. He said when he mentioned the vehicles, Ms. Briggs became "erratic and agitated" and told him to leave.
Ms. Briggs said she told Mr. Pesek at that time that all of her vehicles were licensed. She said she only asked him to leave her property after he became discourteous. "I do not appreciate being spoken to in the disrespectful manner in which he addressed me," she wrote in response to Mr. Pesek's claims.
She asked that Mr. Pesek no longer be allowed to enter her property.
At the meeting last week, Trustee David Brockway said there would be a simple solution to the friction between the two. "Can he come and look at them?" Mr. Brockway asked Ms. Briggs, referring to the alleged junk vehicles.
"No," Ms. Briggs said.
Mr. Pesek said Ms. Briggs did request an appointment to meet with him, and the two met on Sept. 9. But he said she began to discuss the election signs and junk vehicles. He said he has a full-time job, and appointments are for "legitimate reasons."
He said Ms. Briggs then began discussing buying a piece of property and building a second home on it.
"This kind of harassment from a trustee, making an appointment for such a ridiculous question, is beyond the pale," Mr. Pesek said. "In the future, if Mary has such questions, I would insist that she submit them in writing to me, and I will answer them in a timely manner. I will not accept her harassment, either in public or private."
At the meeting, the two exchanged accusations. Ms. Briggs said she was mistreated by Mr. Pesek. Mr. Pesek said she was making a "hostile workplace" for him.
"I said nothing that was untrue," Mr. Pesek said.
"You showed up at my house and were rude to me," Ms. Briggs said.
She said Mr. Pesek was citing her for having her signs up prior to a 30-day period before the election. She said the zoning allows for signs to go up 60 days before an election.
"Is that what I'm citing you for?" Mr. Pesek asked. "I don't think so."
Mr. Pesek said the violation dealt with the sign on the truck that was too close to the road.
Ms. Briggs said Mr. Pesek used the township copier to copy an "attack piece" against her in her bid to retain her seat on the township board of trustees.
Mr. Pesek said he only made the copy after Ms. Briggs asked him to do it.
She said it wasn't right that government property was used for campaign literature.
[ back ]
