The mayor of a New Jersey borough storing a hulking mural is refusing to let part of it go.

The 200-foot-long mural was held in 288 pieces at Carlstadt Public Works and was supposed to be moved to an artists' studio Thursday. But Carlstadt Mayor William Roseman questioned the intentions of its owner and refused to give up more than 20 pieces.

"The objective was to preserve the mural for the people of Bergen County and there will come a time, whether it be a school or maybe even Bergen Community College will accept this mural, over time and the people of Bergen County will be able to accept it once again," said Roseman.

The painting's owned by the Bergen Museum of Art and Science, which was given an offer by the Art Factory in Paterson to house it. The museum's president says they don't intend to sell it.

The mural hung on the facade of a Paramus store for more than three decades.