Does it really take the threat of a justifiable lawsuit for the new Council members to understand that repealing the sign ordinance (throwing the baby out with the bath water) was terribly misguided? That’s what Skillicorn, Toth, Kalivianakis and Friedel did last month, despite the Town Attorney’s warnings then about the legality of a repeal without a public hearing.

At last week’s meeting, after other Council members reported on their committees, meetings and activities, Skillicorn reported only going to the Concours and riding around seeing where signs are placed. Moving on to the agenda, John Wesley introduced the sign topic including charts with rows and columns of decisions that the Council must make to start on this process. A couple of the new Council members say it should be okay for two A-frames per business instead of one. How’s that decided? Everyone? Locations with two entrances? Certain areas? Everywhere? Sounds like another five-hour meeting coming up, so I left to resume watching at home.

Eventually, the Council voted to postpone, seemingly to allow for some individual councilperson input ahead of the upcoming Council retreat. Then what came? Reinstate the sign ordinance. It seems that a citizen had earlier threatened suit if Council didn’t reinstate the ordinance.

So, why rush a repeal of an ordinance that was often kicked down the road but finally updated over the course of at least a year and then passed unanimously? The sign ordinance may not be perfect, but it can be amended. It was a collaborative effort involving citizens, the Chamber of Commerce and staff. Hurting your business? Bring particular points to Chamber, town staff or Council and see what may be done.

This Council needs to start acting responsibly and like they know how governance and decisions should and ought to be made.