3 years ago
Despite getting the mayor's permission to place a pentacle at Olean's City Hall, April Garlow said she won't erect the Wiccan symbol.
Garlow made the request after being outraged that the mayor allowed a group to place a nativity scene, a Christian symbol, on the municipal building's lawn.
"I couldn't believe they would put it on public property. I'm a homeowner in Olean, I pay taxes," Garlow said.
The issue was not specifically on Tuesday night's Common Council meeting, but about a dozen community members expressed their feelings for and against the display.
Mary Thomas described the nativity scene as beautiful, but said it's the battles and bickering over it that have become unbelievably ugly.
"If you don't like it don't look at it," she exclaimed during her time at the council podium. "Who's making anybody look at it?" she questioned.
Mayor David Carucci agreed. He said, at least for this year, the nativity scene is staying at city hall property. He said the park may be a more appropriate location for it in the future, but Common Council members would have to first decide whether to do away with a ban on privately-owned structures in city parks.
Garlow has said she will not place her Wiccan symbol at the building because of the possibility of lawsuits from outside organizations. Carucci said the offer remains for her and anyone else wishing to display their religious symbols.
