Signs such as these are upsetting Phillips residents. (David Hart photo) PHILLIPS - - The Board of Appeals in town upheld a code enforcement decision which further determined that residents Daniel and Linda Perry of 13 Weld Road were in violation of two of the town's zoning ordinances.

According to reports, town ordinance official Katherine Shoaps stated that the residents were violating the town's zoning in two instances. The residents parked two reportedly unregistered trailers on the property which were considered structures and then painted messages on the fronts and sides of the trailers which is considered violations of the town's ordinance. Other signs with additional messages were also placed on the property.

Neighbors and other residents had become discouraged with the appearance of the property and began to become vocal with their concern with the appearance of the lot and the messages it gave. At the recent Phillips Town Meeting, an unsigned letter was passed between those in attendance. The letter said that some copies were signed and those copies were sent to various town officials.

A major topic of concern had to do with nearby residents who were trying to sell their homes saying that the situation was causing a decline in property values in the area of the Perry residence. It also makes their homes less desirable on the market, they say, in particular for those with children.

The property of mention has spray painted signs that references a neighbor's family member who is reported to no longer live in the area. These messages were also painted on stand-alone signs and broadcast across large stretches of the 18-wheeler trailers.

According to the unsigned letter, the "offensive slanderous signs" stem from an incident which occurred 17 years ago when both property owners had a minor child and a young adult living in the area.

A confession of the young adult and eventual conviction revealed that sexual conduct had taken place which eventually led to admission of the young adult to the state's sexual offenders' registry.

"They (the signs) are of sexual nature. The town has been in debate as to whether these trailers used as a billboard are against two town ordinances concerning registered vehicles and writing that can be written on said vehicles," said the concerned resident.

The person they're referring to is a son of the Perrys' neighbor.

The debate has been going on since July 2008, the resident said, and "this situation is distressing and extremely upsetting to the residents living on Weld Road."

Messages facing the street to those driving by reference a name as a child molester and says "minors can't give consent." Additional signs say, "religion used by con artists every day! How sad!" "Don't make the children victims again. Honk your support for the kids!"

Specifically, the neighbors feel this is direct harassment of them. Messages are additionally written along the entire trailer which faces their home. Trees were even reportedly removed along property boundaries to enhance the views of the trailers for the neighbors.

"There is evil everywhere under the sun!" one sign says, "Nemesis is on the March!" and "Welcome to hell!" say others. (Nemesis is known through mythology as the Goddess of Death and Destruction.)

The neighbors purchased a 14-16 foot solid wooden fence to block the visual messages and costing thousands.

The lot owners next to the Perrys had a clean message board of their own which was topped with American flags. On the eastbound side it reads: "We wish to thank all of our family and friends for their love and support." On the westbound side the message revealed; "Sometimes we have to exist with cowards, lunatics and trash."

The distributed letter said that since July of 2008 there has been an ongoing issue of signs being displayed on Weld Road. The issue has gotten progressively worse over the year.

Some residents would like a new ordinance developed, but according to the town attorney, the Board of Appeals had to look at what was within the existing regulations in town first.

"If this problem isn't solved and is allowed, there could be signs all over the Town of Phillips where neighbors and fellow townspeople would be allowed to put up any disgusting sign on the property concerning religion, politics, racism, abortion rights and the dirty laundry of wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, children, teachers and any one of us living in this town."

It is reported that the Board of Appeals had several meetings with workshops lasting over four hours. With the recent Board of Appeals decision, the selectmen in town will discuss what they action they will undertake next. That discussion was expected to start on Tuesday, July 14 after the Irregular went to press for this edition.