ROCKLAND — Lynn Archer, owner of the Brass Compass, a restaurant on property that abuts Rockland’s Winslow-Holbrook Park, stood before the City Council Monday evening, May 13, and asked to buy or lease from the city an eight-foot strip of land there. She referenced the recent request by another Rockland business owner to purchase four feet of land that also is part of the park, although on another side.

Last week, Robert Liberty, owner of the Trade Winds Motor Inn, asked to purchase the small strip of land, explaining to the council at its May 3 agenda-setting meeting that in 2006, when Liberty sold land to the city, he transferred too much of the property and wanted to buy some of it back, roughly 221 square feet.

The council took up that request at its May 13 meeting. Before that discussion, however, Archer spoke the council members during the public comment portion of the meeting, and said that she, too, wanted to purchase a strip of the park land.

“I paid $1,500 and I have six pages of rules I have to abide by with one saying no alcohol and no signage for alcohol,” said Archer. “In light of Mr. Liberty’s request to buy more property, that I be allowed to buy the eight foot strip along my building, or lease it. I would certainly pay whatever the market value is for that property and end that controversy year after year. I’m also willing to bid on that piece of property he’s looking to buy. I believe my request is one of fairness and equality.”

After discussing the Liberty request, Councilors Larry Pritchett, Frank Isganitis and Elizabeth Dickerson all voiced concerns over the strip of land and asked for a better solution, suggesting instead long-term leases for both Liberty and Archer. Councilor Hebert, who sponsored the order, was adamant that the property be put out for bid and the matter settled. City Manager James Smith, in the absence of City Attorney Kevin Beal, commented the bid process was a lengthy one.

Pritchett, Isganitis and Dickerson all voted against the proposal to put the four-foot piece of land out to bid, with Eric Hebert and Will Clayton voting in favor. The order failed.

Chris Wolf can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com.