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Hubbard honking dispute still sizzling
By Jordan Cohen
HUBBARD
It was billed as a “Barbecue for Peace and Reconciliation,” an effort by ABC newsmagazine “20/20” to bring dialogue to an issue that has riled a section of Hubbard for more than six years.
Based on comments during the get-together attended by about 35 people at Chestnut Ridge Park on Saturday, peace and reconciliation seem anything but likely at the moment.
The issue involves what property owner Garrick Krlich describes as incessant horn-honking in front of his Liberty Street home at all hours of the night. Krlich alleges that the disturbances stem from a dispute he had with John Clemente, the retired Eagle Joint District fire chief, beginning in 2007 over the purchase of another home, also located on Liberty Street. A court eventually upheld Clemente’s purchase of that home.
Since that time, Krlich has requested 22 protection orders and filed more than 40 lawsuits against various residents, charging harassment because of the horn-honking, which he attributes to Clemente and his supporters. Krlich’s wife, Lucinda, contacted “20/20,” and the newsmagazine has been working on a story about the dispute, which is tentatively scheduled for broadcast Friday.
Clemente and his attorney, James Wise of Poland, offered a different view of events.
“There was no bid on that house,” Clemente told The Vindicator. “My family has owned it since 1922 and the court ruled in our favor.”
Clemente said he and his aunt owned the home, and he bought out her interest in the property.
His attorney denied that Clemente was behind the ongoing disturbances.
“We have no idea how the horn-honking began,” Wise said.
“The system has failed this couple,” said Krlich’s attorney Robert Henkin. “He was begging for it to stop and it hasn’t.”
ABC also brought along a mediator, Billie Colombaro, a former Louisiana appeals court judge, who said she met with both sides for several hours. Despite the network’s efforts at dialogue, Colombaro said she does not believe the time is right for mediation.
“My assessment is they’re not ready to productively engage in the process,” she said.
The network tried to lighten the tone of the barbeque by offering free hamburgers and hot dogs, and live musical performances.
“It wasn’t our job to try to resolve this,” said Paula Faris, ABC reporter. “We’re just hoping to open up lines of communication and give the city a voice.” Faris asked for volunteers to speak briefly about their concerns but with a few caveats.
“We ask you to be respectful, with no name-calling and no cussing,” Faris said. “You’re on national television representing Hubbard, Ohio.”
Speakers adhered to her requests, but that didn’t change what appeared to be significant bitterness on both sides. One example: Donna Morgan, a neighbor of Krlich, who carried a poster with a picture of her dog and a caption “Wanted: For Harassment.” Morgan told the group that Krlich called the police after she walked the dog by his fence. Another speaker, Kelsey Stafford, Mercer, admitted her fianc e, whom she declined to identify, honked the horn 10 times by the house. She said he is a defendant in one of Krlich’s lawsuits.
“He was 19 then, he’s 25 now and he’s trying to give you peace, but you’re suing him,” she said in remarks directed at Krlich.
Others rallied to Krlich’s defense. “These are great people,” said Tess Knisely of Hubbard Township. “I don’t like what’s going on and what’s happening to them,” said Gloria Mathews of West Middlesex.
“This is just insanity,” Krlich said afterwards. “It’s not just horn-blowing, it’s stalking.”
Neither Krlich nor Clemente addressed the public. Their attorneys spoke on their behalf.
Both legal representatives said afterwards they are still interested in mediation, despite former Judge Colombaro’s assessment.
“Mediation involves compromise,” Wise said, but neither he nor Henkin indicated where there could be some progress toward the barbecue’s goal of peace and reconciliation —an opinion apparently shared by Colombaro.
“I haven’t seen any movement,” she said after the barbeque concluded.