Woman tells council she is being harassed

Her last appearance before the Great Falls Town Council was to request town officials stop using a Christian version of prayer at the beginning of government meetings.

Darla Wynne has since filed a federal lawsuit against the Great Falls Town Council in hopes a judge will order officials to discontinue the practice.

Last Monday night, Wynne stood before council declaring she is being harassed by a town employee. In her brief comments during the public session, Wynne told town officials she has two horses in the yard of her 44 Walnut St. residence. Wynne said she discussed the animal issue with Police Chief John Brown and there seemed to be no problem with having the horses.

A police report, filed earlier in the month, claims the horses are a nuisance to neighbors. The report stated noises from the horses are causing a neighbor to lose sleep at night. The report also stated one of the horses reared and pawed at a child in a menacing manner.

Wynne claims the report is untrue.

Wynne now wants a permit to build a shelter for her horses. Her request was denied. The town clerk, Wynne said, told her that building a shelter for the horses is an issue.

Section 24-72 of the Great Falls Ordinance Book lists conditions constituting a public nuisance in the maintenance of any barn, stable, chicken yard or manure pile within 500nfeet of a residence.

Wynne, however, says she does not plan to build a stable but a lean-to with four posts and tin on top so the horses will have shelter from the rain.

Police Chief John Brown said the horses, as required by animal control, must have a shelter.

"I just want to know why Town Hall has expounded so much time and energy to prevent me from putting up a lean-to," Wynne said. "And why are my tax dollars being spent like they are to harass me? I'm not asking for much, but why am I being harassed?"

The horses, Wynne said, will not be at the residence on a permanent basis.

Chester County Building and Zoning Director Karlissa Sloan said Wynne's original request was for a permit to build a shelter for the horses. After that request was denied, Wynne, Sloan said, requested a permit to build a lean-to. Because the request is not conducive to town ordinances, that permit must also be denied, Sloan said. The lean-to, Sloan said, would serve as a housing area for the horses and therefore the structure would be in violation of town ordinances.

Town Attorney Brian Gibbons asked council to refer the matter to him for questioning. Council agreed, ending the public session comments.