Hearings focus on plan to regulate electronic signs

The Town Board has scheduled public hearings for July 26 and Aug. 10 on a proposed law that would regulate electronic message signs.

Both hearings are scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Frank D. Greco Senior Citizens Center at 207 Market St.

Town Councilman Fred Costello said previously that the law was being sought by people who want to take advantage of changes in advertising technology.

“We’ve been approached by a number of ... businesses, some emergency services, some just volunteers, where they would like the opportunity to put the signs that are basically TVs, the LEDs that are visible during the day, that have messages,” he said.

Under the proposed law, the lighted signs would be limited to 20 square feet and would be required to display messages on a screen for at least 12 seconds. The proposal also states: • The signs must be at least 50 feet from a traffic signal.

• The signs must not be closer than 500 feet to a similar type of sign on a road with a 55-mph speed limit and not closer than 400 feet on a road with a 45-mph limit.

• The intensity of light cannot exceed 0.3 foot candles above ambient light levels when measured at a distance of 50 feet.

• The signs cannot change messages between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The proposed law also would require the signs to be “clear and easy to read, without excessive text, colors, graphics or other features that reduce legibility.”

“The size of letters and number of words on such a

sign shall take into account the speed limit and visibility limitations of adjacent roads,” the proposal states.

Also, sign owners would be required to ensure “each message ... be complete in itself and not require continuation to another message or sign.”