The Big Sign Controversy: Signs go to Committee Regulations & Definitions "The Sound Of Truth"3/19/08 Save the Date Dave Gardner Sounds off on "Signs of Business" Signs of Business 2/28/08 David Gardner-His Side of the Sign Debate 2/28/08 A Small Win for Downtown Business Owners 2/21/08 The Moratorium 2/21/08 Abuzz 2/20/08 The Law The Blog Sound Off - tell us what you think or want others to know!

Signs of Business by Ada Counsman How did the Sign Enforcement Volunteer's work to remove "illegal" sandwich board signs from Easthampton's sidewalks effect local businesses? We talked with Derrick Mason of Sign Grafx, who is one of the leaders on sign regulation updates and changes. Derrick told us stories of negative impact on Easthampton businesses. We wanted to see and hear from business owners with signs for first hand experiences. So, we visited a few businesses on Main Street. A restauranteur on Shop Row told us that for the 3 1/2 days he was forced to remove his sandwich board sign he lost $600-$1,000 compared to his usual bank deposits. As soon as he put his sign back up, near lunchtime Thursday business bounced back immediately. He told of a man who called for 48 ounces of chili, he was going to be leaving work and his wife had seen the sandwich board sign displayed advertising it that day and now wanted some for their family dinner that evening. That sale, in particular, he attributed to his advertising sign. In fact he indicated that should the moratorium be lifted on these signs, he would use his sign and pay the fine; it would just make economic sense. This Main Street restaurant owner has a petition near his cash register for customers who like and want to keep sandwich board signs in use; so far he has 105 signatures on his clipboard. No one we talked to was aware of anyone other than Easthampton's Sign Enforcement Volunteer, David Gardner who objected to the use of sandwich board signs. Derrick and this restauranteur both told us of another dining establishment in Easthampton, which because of its obscure location, was almost forced to close because of it's loss of revenue in the 3 _ days it sandwich board sign was absent from its usual spot. Even though this restaurant is hidden behind other buildings, the sandwich board sign out on the sidewalk is enough to remind people of its presence and its specialties. Even the sudden enforcement of Zoning Ordinance, section 10 Additional Land Use Regulations sub-section 10.0 Signs, seems arbitrary. On Main Street, several businesses leasing/renting privately owned businesses space had been forced to remove their sandwich board signs, while just down the street in Old Town Hall businesses leasing/renting space entirely on city property were still using theirs. We next talked with Charles “Chuck” Conner of The Taylor Agency also on Main Street. The Taylor Agency, like most real estate agencies uses signs constantly. Charles sat on the Planning Board's Sub-Committee to update the Zoning Ordinances over 10 years ago; he indicated that they had not been updated since. He indicated that the committee never envisioned the current situation. Charles told us that the current sign controversy seems to go back to December 2006/January 2007 when several intersections were “messy” with multiple real estate signs, signs for people who wanted to plow your driveway and other signs too. At this time enforcement of sign ordinances was used to “clean up” the intersections. There was nothing said about sandwich board signs, no complaints about these signs right outside an establishment. Sandwich Board signs were in use then in Easthampton as they are now. Charles told us that his father, now in his eighties doesn't see a problem with the sandwich board signs. The elder Mr. Conner says that “the signs are evidence of Easthampton's resurgence”; that the community has come alive again, that it's now again a vibrant place to live and do business. The purpose of a sandwich board sign is to call attention to the business and build recognition. As we drive by we don't always pay attention to the businesses we pass and what services they offer to us. We need reminding of what we can do right here in Easthampton, local people doing business in our own community.