City council, Melfi debate new billboard regulations

The mayor said he will veto the current proposal if additions are not made. By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR. VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF GIRARD -- A city council member is looking to put new rules on billboards here, but Mayor James Melfi said some changes to the proposed regulations are needed. Third Ward Councilman John Seidler said the city is in need of an updated set of codes to regulate billboards and other advertising devices. The proposed guidelines will protect property value, create a more attractive climate and promote safety on roadways, according to the legislation. "The original 1974 code was very vague and very contradictory in respect to billboards and signs," he said. "This is going to give us some teeth as far as our zoning ordinance is concerned. If you are a business here or going to do business here and want to know what signs you can use, this is very detailed." The proposed billboard regulations have gone through two readings before council. Council could vote on the new regulations as early as its Nov. 14 meeting. Melfi discontent The mayor, however, said the proposed regulations are missing a few details. Melfi said the city already has enough billboards, and the proposed regulations should not pass without major changes. "I personally believe no more billboards are needed in the city of Girard," Melfi said. "There are two problems with the legislation, and I will veto it in its current state." The proposed regulations would not allow any new billboards to be placed between Gordan Street and the northern city limits. Melfi said the no new billboard zone should be extended several hundred feet back to the Golf Dome. Melfi also said no billboards should be allowed in front of the cemetery in that same area. According to the mayor, allowing billboards to be erected in the northern end of town in front of the cemetery would be both "distasteful and disrespectful." Melfi said he also does not want to the leave the door open to any billboards being erected on the old Leatherworks property, which is also on the northern end of town. He said residents in the area have suffered enough because of the property, and a billboard on the property would be an insult to them. Melfi said the owners of the Leatherworks property have been in a 10-year legal battle with the city, costing the city more than $125,000 in legal fees. He said allowing the owners of the property to profit from advertising devices on the property now would be "sickening." Melfi also wants the new regulations to prohibit businesses from using outside wall space to advertise for a separate business. He said businesses should be permitted to use their space to advertise only for what is offered at that particular business. Seidler said the process for creating new regulations started after Melfi denied a company's request to place new billboards at two locations in the city in 2004. He said the new regulations should be sufficient enough to address any concerns. Moratorium Melfi said council, at his request, implemented a moratorium on new billboards in 2000. The moratorium, he said, was to be renewed annually. According to Melfi, the company's request for two new billboards in 2004 was denied because he felt it was the intention of council to not issue any new permits for billboards. He said the fact that council renewed the moratorium shortly after he rejected the request is proof that he made the right decision. There remains a moratorium on any new billboards in city. jgoodwin@vindy.com