Aug 9, 2005 4 min read

With school tax reform a dismal failure and the legislative pay raise creating a boil-over on the public stove, it’s gratifying to know that state Rep. Larry Roberts (D-South Union) has focused on the pressing issue of removing stop signs in his new neighborhood. Sticking his nose into another local issue with the Pinnochio-like aplomb that defines his character, Roberts has written the South Union Township supervisors, urging them to remove stop signs in Grand View Manor that the veteran legislator believes may be illegal.

“If these stop signs are not in compliance with the Pennsylvania code, I am respectfully asking that they be removed,” wrote Roberts, who added, “Please keep in mind that if an accident occurs at an illegal stop sign, the township could be held liable.”

In possibly the best terse response issued by an American since World War II Gen. Anthony McAuliffe greeted a German surrender demand at Bastogne with, “Nuts!”, Supervisor Robert Schiffbauer replied that the signs will be removed “over my dead body.”

The last time we checked, the South Union Township supervisors are elected to run that municipality, while Roberts was sent to Harrisburg to work on state governmental issues. However, this line of demarcation apparently escapes Roberts’ brain, as he now appears eager to branch out into township matters after a long “career” of meddling in county affairs. His 1997 tax assessment appeal case was a precursor to the countywide property reassessment, and he was a key figure in the state’s unsuccessful but costly witch hunt against chief assessor James A. Hercik and assessor Candace McCahill.

Does anyone believe that that the follow-up telephone call that Supervisor Tom Frankhouser got from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, directing the supervisors to see what they could do about the stop signs, came out of the blue, unprompted by anyone with state-level clout? If you lodged a similar complaint with your municipality, do you think PennDOT would follow up as a courtesy? This type of strong-arming represents a serious misuse of government power, and it’s an abuse that should not be tolerated.

Roberts, in his typical modus operandi, cites “complaints” that he has received about the stop signs as the reason for initiating what appears to be another of his personal crusades. That tactic gives him political cover, of course, but it’s funny that no Grand View Manor residents appeared at last week’s township supervisors meeting to ask for the stop signs’ removal.

Ironically, those who did show up were on the other side of the fence, urging the supervisors to keep the signs in their neighborhood as a deterrent to speeding and a protection for playing children. George McCarty and Ed Plisko spoke along that vein – as did a more familiar person, former county Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh, who lives in Grand View Manor, has three young children and accurately summarized the situation.

“Many residents are furious over this (letter),” said Cavanagh. “I welcome him (Roberts) to the neighborhood, but don’t move in thinking you’re the Lord of Grandview Manor … He can play his shenanigans in Harrisburg, but not in my neighborhood.”

If Roberts truly believes that the Grand View Manor stop signs are illegal, he should take his case directly to PennDOT for enforcement, because that state agency obviously responds to his concerns in a preferential manner. “No other township is going through this,” said Frankhouser, in reference to what amounts, at minimum, to a selective persecution.

Roberts could also introduce legislation that would clear up the matter by making it easier for townships like South Union to place stop signs legally, without the costly traffic study that Frankhouser said that PennDOT requested after Roberts’ involvement. Legislative success in that area would double Roberts’ list of major legislative achievements in 13 years, and he’d have one more thing to brag about besides bringing cable television to Ohiopyle Borough.

Quite simply, Roberts obviously doesn’t have enough to do in Harrisburg if he has time to badger local officials about stop sign placement. But if he has that luxury, he should try doing something constructive for a change.