A harassment call made by Mahoning Township resident Angie Marks about a former occupant of the building she rents on Route 443 near the Ninth Street Bridge led to Police Chief Audie Mertz threatening to arrest her for violating the Pennsylvania Criminal Code dealing with fortune telling.

The allegation was one Marks took exception to and came to the board of supervisors for direction.Marks spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, "I opened a business in Mahoning Township and have a license for it."She added, "I perform chakra cleansing, stone yoga, yoga and work with crystals. The business used to be a tarot card reader, and that sign was still up because we have not yet had a new sign installed."Marks the issue started when she began to allegedly be harassed by the former tenant of the building near the Ninth Street bridge.When Mertz arrived to deal with the harassment complaint, he told Marks that her business was illegal and could not be operated.Mertz, who was present at the meeting said, "When I came in and saw the setup, I told her it was not legal."He did not say what made him believe that other than the old sign outside.Marks said the sign was due to be replaced and did not accurately reflect what she did.She acknowledged a crystal ball was in the business area, but she said it was strictly décor.Marks laughingly dismissed it as a decoration saying, "I don't use crystal balls for anything. I just have it because I like it and I have a second one on order."Supervisor Frank Ruch joked with her, saying that perhaps the board could borrow it to make some decisions later, which brought chuckles from most present.Chairman John Wieczorek asked Mertz why she was being singled out when the previous occupant worked without issue for years.Mertz said,"It is a different administration now."But Wieczorek countered that the board of supervisors for the most part was the same today as it was when the previous business was operating.Supervisor Kerry Verrastro suggested that she consult with a business attorney to review the law and determine what parts of her business are legal and what are not.Solicitor Tom Nanovic said her attorney will be able to tell her what she can do and suggested that if she removes the sign, that would possibly solve the problem.The landlord who identified himself as John told the board that other psychics or readers operate within the area and pointed out one that operated on Broadway.He also said the previous owner was not bothered, so he could not understand why Marks was being bothered now.He said the law cites witchcraft, spell casting and potions as being illegal, and said he believed the law was old and outdated.Marks agreed to have the sign removed and re-emphasized her business does not violate the law regardless of what the old sign says was offered there previously.