Although nobody actually said the word, bamboo was the hot topic of Tuesday's Coplay Borough Council meeting.

For the past several months, resident Ann Killeen has been complaining to council about overgrown bamboo at 1102 Center St. and the fact that Councilman Bill Leiner Jr. and members of the Town Watch have been voluntarily cleaning up the overgrown, invasive plant. She said she believes the property owner should have been cited for the overgrowth instead.

Leiner maintains he and Coplay Town Watch members were simply doing a good deed for a resident in need.

The situation began to come to a head at last week's council workshop meeting when Killeen complained about a homemade sign on the property that reads, "Thank you, Coplay Town Watch. Annie, we love you."

"I consider this an act of bullying or harassment, or something," Killeen said at the Aug. 6 meeting. "This is abuse of power. He has no right to do this as a councilman."

She asked that council take action on her behalf. Although Council President Lou Bodish said he thought posting the sign was "inappropriate and childish," the discussion ended without resolution.

"I want to apologize to Coplay and I want to apologize to council because I didn't speak up," said Mayor Joseph Bundra during the mayor's report Aug. 14. Without mentioning Killeen by name, he described a woman coming to council to express concerns about the sign and nothing being done in response to her complaint.

"It was like a slap in the face. It was really rude," he said, adding that Leiner should apologize in public because the sign was posted in public.

"I agree," said Councilman Michael Mazur.

Councilmen David Royer and Joseph Groller said the same.

Even Leiner said "I agree," though he added he doesn't believe council has all the facts. He described it as "admirable" that people on council want to help Killeen.

"If I did anything to offend the lady in question since she moved into the borough, I apologize." Leiner said.

"You are a public official on this council and it was definitely inappropriate and it reflects back on the council," said Bodish.

Leiner asked Bodish if he was sure the sign referred to Killeen. When Bodish said he was, Leiner said it was an incorrect conclusion.

"You owe Annie an apology and you owe council an apology," Bodish said.

"If I did anything since the reorganization in January 2012 that upset anyone on this panel, please accept my apology," Leiner said.

When Killeen was asked if she had anything to say, Leiner winked and said, "You're supposed to keep it going."

He explained after the meeting that he believes other members of council upset her and goaded her into complaining in order to keep the "political theater" going.

"Put it on the record he refused to apologize," said Killeen, adding that all members of council should not feel responsible for Leiner's actions. "Let the public know what kind of man he is."

"I'm disappointed," said Mazur, adding that in a similar situation, he would apologize whether he thought he was right or wrong.

Leiner countered by saying Mazur should apologize for "missing 40 percent of the meetings."

"This was not something done in his official capacity as a councilman. It was not authorized by council," said Solicitor Lisa Pereira. "There's no guidance in the borough code."

Killeen suggested the borough come up with a set of standards to address issues of fairness that arise when council members personally help private citizens.

"That lady got her yard cleaned up," said Killeen. "That lady got free yard service."

Leiner said after the meeting that the property owner paid $350 for a Dumpster and made a $100 donation to the Town Watch for its efforts in assisting her.

He didn't confirm or deny posting the sign. He did say the sign did not refer to Killeen but he declined to say more about the other person's identity.

Leiner said he talked to Pereira after the meeting and she asked why he didn't explain this.

He said he told her there was no point because the other members of council weren't interested in the whole story.