Telford looks at allowing electronic sign
Telford is considering changing its rule book to accommodate two borough nonprofits, but realizes it could potentially open a can of worms by doing so.
Telford Borough Council discussed both a request for an electronic sign from the Telford Fire Company and a request to allow alcohol in a borough park from the Indian Valley Public Library at its Sept. 5 meeting.
The borough has received a request from the fire company to erect an electronic sign in front of the firehouse, council President Carolyn Crouthamel said. Borough ordinances, however, prohibit electronic signs.
The fire company, located at 400 W. Broad St., sits in a residential zoning district.
“We would have to do an amendment to the zoning ordinance,” Crouthamel said.
The fire company has proposed building an electronic sign that would be the same exact size as its current one and would use the same base, according to Crouthamel. The only difference would be that the fire company could change the wording on the electronic sign much easier than the current manual method.
While council members seemed in favor of granting the fire company’s request, the ramifications of allowing an electronic sign in a residential zone raised concerns.
“The initial thing is to acFRPPRGDWH WKH fiUH FRPSDny, but as we get into it, we realize it opens up a broader aspect,” Crouthamel said.
Council members said they feared if they changed the zoning to allow for electronic signs, they could pop up throughout residential areas.
“Do we want to see this on Main Street?” council member Robert Baker asked.
”I’m not in favor of opening up a can of worms,” council member Stanley Nyce said. “I’m saying we PDNH WKLV VLQJuODU WR WKH fiUH company. Period.”
Council member Jeffrey Maxwell questioned the legality of doing that, fearing it would be considered spot zoning.
“I think we’re at least obliged to look into it and come back with the best plan,” Crouthamel said.
The council decided to turn the issue over to its planning and zoning committee to have it investigate the possibilities DQG OHJDO UDPLfiFDWLRQV.
In other business, the council considered a request from the Indian Valley Public Library that similarly offered the possibility of setting an unwanted precedent.
The borough had received a request from the library for use of adjacent Telford Park during its 2013 Brews for Books event, scheduled for July 20, 2013.
The library recently held its annual fundraiser event, which allows attendees to sample beers from local microbreweries and homebrewers, and based on the success, it is already planning an expanded event for 2013.
The library requested the same thing at the last minute this year, but the borough had to say no due to its ordinance prohibiting alcohol in borough parks, according to Borough Manager Mark Fournier. The library restricted this year’s event to its own property.
Now, the library has made its request almost a full year in advance, asking to reserve Telford Park July 19 to 21, 2013 — for setup, the event itself and cleanup — and for permission to have alcohol at the park.
“We’ve never allowed alcohol in our parks,” Fournier said. “But it’s not something we could not make an exception for.”
Council member Scott Hillegass said granting the library’s request could open up a can of worms, as other organizations would likely seek permission to serve alcohol on borough property.
The council decided to have its development and culture committee sit down wLWK OLEUDUy RIfiFLDOV DQG look into the issue, noting it would have to make a decision by January if the park is to be reserved for the event.