Sign case moved to Lake Como

MARLBORO - The location for a hearing concerning a sign that was constructed on the front lawn of a Robertsville Road home has been changed again. The case is now scheduled to be heard in the Lake Como municipal court on Aug. 21 at 9 a.m.

In March, township zoning officer Sarah Paris cited homeowner Barrie Kay with violating the municipal code which prohibits billboards (which are considered a commercial use) from being constructed in a residential zone.

For several weeks this spring, the signs that sat on Kay's front lawn displayed comments mocking Mayor Robert Klein-berg and other municipal employees.

Following the issuance of the summons, the case was assigned to the Marlboro municipal court.

On May 9 Kay's attorney, Bernard Meiterman, requested a change of venue. He said it would not be reasonable to ask the Marlboro court to make a decision in a case involving a sign that criticized township officials.

Court officials had the case moved from Marlboro to Tinton Falls, where it was supposed to have been heard on July 24.

When the News Transcript called the Tinton Falls municipal court on July 23 to confirm the July 24 hearing, a court employee said the Kay case had been sent back to Marlboro.

On July 24, a Marlboro municipal court employee said the case had been transferred to Lake Como in eastern Monmouth County. The Lake Como municipal court confirmed the Aug. 21 hearing date.

Meiterman could not be reached to explain why the hearing had been moved out of Tinton Falls.

Kay was issued a summons on April 23 for having what was deemed to be an illegal billboard on the front lawn of her home. The summons only pertained to the sign structure and not to the messages painted on it, Paris has said.

Barrie Kay is the wife of Edward Kay, who is under a federal indictment on corruption charges relating to a construction project in Marlboro. Kay was indicted with Bernard Meiterman and his brother, Steve Meiterman.

- Rebecca Morton