What started out as a simple resolution to get graffiti cleaned up fast turned into a protracted debate on who should be compelled to cover it and who should bear the cost.
Kennett Square Borough Council Vice President Jeff Darman, presiding in the absence of President Nick Perigo, presented a resolution prepared by the solicitor's office. In concise terms, it directed owners of dwellings that had been sprayed by graffiti to get it cleaned up within 24 hours.
The resolution was prompted by Police Chief Albert McCarthy, who cited the increase of the gang signatures throughout the area.
"This is not a kid grabbing a can of paint. This is tagging their turf," he said.
He compared cleaning up graffiti fast to fixing broken windows as soon as the damage occurs. He said the faster you get rid of it, the better the message will be that it will not be tolerated.
McCarthy said that until now he has carried paint around with him, and when he sees graffiti he paints over it right away, but there needs to be some legal structure.
Darman agreed with the need for quick response. "Everything you read says if you don't do it fast, you lose the battle," he said.
But Council member Steve Kelly said he viewed the owners of tagged dwellings as victims who should not be punished for the graffiti they didn't cause. He also suggested the enforcement of the new policy should apply to commercial establishments only.
Council member Jerome Rhodes said 24 hours is a short time to insist that a property owner get rid of the markings. Given that people might find it coming home from work one day and go to work the next, the time limitations are severe. He also said that getting spray paint off certain surfaces like stone is time-consuming and expensive. "People may not have the means to remove it," he said.
Council member Joe Makowski urged a more cautious tack. He suggested giving the victims a written warning that the graffiti must come off and even having the borough pay for or carry out the removal.
Council member Emidio Falini said paying for the removal might cause someone to graffiti his own property just to get the borough to pay for a new paint job.
And Council member Rich Pesce said if the borough, not the homeowner, painted over the graffiti, it might get in trouble for not doing a good job or mismatching colors.
Darman insisted that something be done, however. "If we don't do something, we're back to the status quo," he said.
In the end, the resolution was not passed or even brought up for a vote. But the Council members directed Borough Manager Marge Wolf to call other municipalities that had dealt with graffiti and find out what methods worked for them.
The members also agreed to bring in the surrounding municipalities -- Kennett and New Garden townships -- and ask them to become involved in fighting the graffiti scourge.