Religious-freedom group requests end to action against Acts

GOUVERNEUR — A legal group that advocates religious freedom has filed a motion in Town Court on behalf of Acts II Construction owner Daniel W. Burritt to have a ticket dismissed.

The town charged Mr. Burritt last fall with not having a permit for a religious message on a parked semitrailer on his property on Route 11. The town contends the trailer is a billboard.

Mr. Burritt said he believes the town would ignore his trailer if it weren't for its biblical references.

The Alliance Defense Fund, Washington, D.C., has taken up Mr. Burritt's case and filed a recent motion arguing his religious freedom is being curtailed.

"It's a pretty expansive motion," town Attorney Henry J. Leader said. "It's dealing with a lot of constitutional issues."

Mr. Leader said he received the motion over the weekend and hadn't had time yet to go through its points and respond.

The case is scheduled to go to trial May 6, but the date could change.

Mr. Burritt previously pointed to other trailers, including some owned by Kinney Drugs, that are parked without permits.

However, Mr. Leader discounted the argument.

"As far as I know, including Kinney's, they move them around. This is the only one that's stationary. I don't think he's been singled out for anything," Mr. Leader said. "The town isn't trying to persecute religions. They just want to make sure he complies with the law."