PITMAN — Borough attorney Brian Duffield said, at this point, the borough is treating the controversial “Keep Christ in Christmas” banner situation as a possible zoning violation and nothing more.

On Friday, the Freedom from Religion Foundation — a national organization committed to keeping religion separate from government — contacted Mayor Mike Batten and requested the banner be removed because it promoted the Christian faith. According to Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the FFRF, several other municipal departments were also contacted but did not return calls.

“In the letter FFRF sent, the suggestion is that the banner is on public property so we looked into it,” said Duffield. “We found out that the banner is attached on one end to the old bank — which is privately owned — and on the other end it’s connected to an Atlantic City Electric or Verizon pole which the borough does not own. Also, Broadway is a county — not a borough — road. Everything related to the sign is not on Pitman public property.”

The only way the borough would be able to regulate such a banner, said Duffield, is through its zoning ordinance.

“The zoning board does have the ability to regulate signs, and this banner would be considered a temporary sign,” he said. “The question would be if they obtained a permit. Whoever put it up will be asked if they have a permit.”

Duffield said he already sent a letter to the zoning officer asking for a review of the records.

“If a permit was not obtained, he’ll do whatever he needs to do as the zoning officer,” said Duffield. “We don’t have the authority to just take the banner down. The only thing we can do is address it through a zoning ordinance.”

To that end, the banner will remain as is at this point.

Batten said he’s surprised there’s such controversy surrounding the banner, which was sponsored by the local Knights of Columbus. He said since the FFRF letter became public, the town has been crowded with media.

“This town’s roots are in a Methodist camp meeting,” said Batten. “It’s sad, because the beginning of our town was religious and we have 13 churches. And I’m surprised because a banner has hung there for many years and we’ve never heard complaints before.”

He echoed Duffield’s words that mayor and council could do nothing with the situation at this point.

According to FFRF officials on Monday, a Pitman resident contacted the organization after Pitman Fire Department was spotted raising the banner over the county road between two borough-owned light posts. Gaylor said the banner offends “non-believers, Jews, Wiccans and Americans of any religion.”

According to the letter sent to Batten, Foundation officials feel that if the Christian banner is allowed to remain, FFRF would like to hang a banner reading, “At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are not gods, no devils, no angels, nor heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds. Freedom From Religion Foundation.”