Town Select Board Member Paints Crosswalks, Faces Charge and Fine

BILLERICA, Mass. (AP) _ A member of the Billerica select board is facing a misdemeanor charge of defacing public property for painting faded crosswalks in the town center.

George Simolaris, a painter by trade, used green deck paint on several crosswalks in the town center last weekend saying it was a public safety issue and he was tired of waiting for the town to act.

Town workers spent much of Sunday power-washing the fresh paint off the roads.

Simolaris says he will pay the $4,200 it took to clean the roads, but he is rejecting calls by other members of the board to resign.

Town Manager John Curran said while what Simolaris did was not malicious, it was still illegal and he should have not circumvented a law he is sworn to uphold.