Hounsfield officials prohibited from plowing church lot

Hounsfield town officials expressed dismay after learning they would be prohibited from plowing the parking lot of the nearby Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church, something the town has done for decades.

At the Town Council meeting Thursday night, town Supervisor Timothy W. Scee said he had received a call from the state attorney general’s office saying that it had an anonymous complaint about the plowing and that it was against the rules.

Highway Superintendent Bruce C. Alcombrack, who had plowed the parking lot, said he was “dumbfounded” by the decision and vented frustration at the anonymous complainant.

“I hope they burn in hell. ... That’s my comment,” Mr. Alcombrack said.

Mr. Scee summarized the ruling, saying he was told the town could not use its resources to assist a private property. The ruling was not related to the parking lot’s connection to a church.

Mr. Scee said when he tried to ascertain the identity of the caller through a Freedom of Information Act request, he was told the complainant’s name could not be released under rules protecting whistle-blowers.

“God rest his soul,” Mr. Scee said.

He expressed disappointment in the ruling, noting the town had helped plow the church’s lot for decades.

“The only people who suffer are the people of the church,” Mr. Scee said.

While some councilmen discussed the possibility of working against the order, town attorney David A. Renzi told them if they were to do so, they would violate the state constitution and they could be removed from office.

With no option to ignore the order, the board voted 4-0 on a resolution acknowledging the decision and clarifying the town wouldn’t plow the lot. Councilman Richard F. Young abstained from the vote but said, “I don’t want to break the laws.”

After the meeting, there was some discussion among a few people in attendance that they might plow the lot.

On Friday, the church’s pastor, the Rev. Mona L. Fargo, said that she had been informed of the decision by Mr. Scee last week and that it would not be much of an issue. She declined to comment further on the matter.