Have you noticed that nearly every letter to the editor in any Lancaster County newspaper complaining about the horrors of over-development starts the same? "When I moved to Lancaster County six years ago. . .".

This is not a newcomer-bashing column, I promise. What concerns me is the attitude that the rules of nature, the rules of community and the rules of civility apply evenly to everyone-with the exception of me. (That's a you, me-if it applies-and not a simple me, me: got it?)

We all know that it is unsafe and generally illegal to park within 20 feet of an intersection. I learned that from George Male in 1960 when I took Driver's Ed at Warwick. It is, however, apparently safe and legal for the Lititz Police Department since both sides of Broad St., at the Square, are not only used for, but also are identified as "Police Parking Only". Those yellow curbs extend all the way to the pedestrian crosswalk.

I well up with pride when some visitor comments that Lititz is such a clean and neat community. They find it a pleasure to shop in the Historic District because of the ambiance. So when they retire they move to Lititz and open a craft shop (as though we really need another) on Main Street. Then suddenly they are angry and upset because of government interference in their private enterprise. (I actually heard Elmer Murry cite the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States in a zoning case involving the placement of a banner in the Lititz Historical District. We take our zoning way too seriously around here.).

In this euphemistic case the Zoning Officer has ruled that the planned 6 feet by 8 feet, triangular, orange flashing neon sign emitting random puffs of smoke and the sound of "Yankee Doodle" played on a zither is in violation of zoning. What happened to "ambiance"?

And borough government is the king of being above the law. The Borough of Lititz Zoning Ordinance, which borough council approved for all of us, requires off-street parking for certain types of buildings. Sections 307H(2)(l) and 307H(4)(k) both apply to the new Borough Hall. You can look up the text of these sections at Borough Hall or on-line. Is there any off-street parking at all? If there is, where is it?

If we had followed zoning precedent and applied it to Borough Hall we would probably have an empty shell, full of birds nests, awaiting demolition. If the last private owner of the church building at Broad and Orange had been treated the same as the borough itself we would have a rental hall and catering business along with offices and a youth center. I know because I was chairman of the Zoning Hearing Board that had no choice but to deny his request because of a lack of parking Unlike the letter-writers in the lead paragraph of this missive, Lititz is my home. I was born here, was schooled here and I settled here after serving my country as both Marine and airman. I work as a volunteer at the Welcome Center, have served in appointed government offices and have defended Lititz all my life. It may seem as though I comment only on negative things, but that is because I know we can do better.

But it bothers me that everyone I have interviewed for these columns, with the single exception of Chief of Police Shertzer, has concluded the discussion with the admonition not to use their name. Lititz has a serious good old boys network. As Dr. Martin Luther King said in his final speech, "Longevity has its place." But here and now, longevity in office is a sign of a community that is willing to settle for what we have, to be complacent with our public lot, to accept the mediocre.

Longevity in public office also leads to special treatment for some and a slacking of creativity. The "we tried that before" argument is used regularly to stifle creativity and refuse unique solutions. I often hear people fend off ideas by suggesting that there is no reason to "reinvent the wheel". I disagree--we should reinvent the wheel every year or two-perhaps in doing so, the flat spots can be rounded out. We need people to ask questions that make us think and, if necessary, explain the status quo.

Too often we find ourselves supporting the status quo long after the quo has lost its status.