Mar 17, 2011 By Patty Yauger 4 min read

 

CONNELLSVILLE – Businesses wanting to erect signs within the city limits will be required to conform to new regulations, according to action taken Wednesday by council.

If adopted at the April meeting, all signage will require approval before it is constructed, placed or erected and will only be considered for the downtown business district.

Tom Currey, code enforcement officer, said changes to the 2006 sign law were necessary.

“(The amended ordinance) clarifies a lot of ambiguities in the original ordinance,” he said.

The regulations, he said, addresses historic signs that under the former ordinance were required to be removed when the business it was advertising no longer existed.

“Sometimes historic signs have a sentimental value to the community,” he said.

For example, said Currey, the Aaron’s Furniture store sign continues to exist although the store closed more than four decades ago.

“Its useful function is now gone and it should have been removed,” said Currey. “However, because it is a part of Connellsville history, perhaps it should remain for posterity sake.

“The question arises as to who makes that decision, and in the ordinance that is clarified.”

Most existing signs will be permitted to remain if it is applicable to the business and maintained.

Advertising signs on the exterior of buildings that do not pertain to the business will be assessed by Currey and Councilwoman Marilyn Weaver, director of public health and safety.

“It may be that they will be considered advertising and the owner will be required to pay the annual $100 fee to have the sign,” said Currey.

The ordinance will restrict the number of advertising signs along the Route 119 corridor to 10 at the present time, with similar restrictions along Crawford Avenue and Pittsburgh Street.

“If one of the signs should fall into disrepair and be removed, a replacement would be considered provided the number does not exceed the maximum amount,” said Currey, adding that advertising signs are most impacted. “If a new business is started and the owner wants to put a sign up on that building, he is going to be able to do that.

“Connellsville does not want to have the look of Las Vegas.”

Weaver, meanwhile, commended Currey for taking the time to revise the ordinance in order to allow the city to maintain the number of advertising signs.

“(Currey) recognized there were inconsistencies in the ordinance, making it impossible for him to enforce,” said Weaver. “We believe now we have regulations that can be fairly enforced.”

The ordinance must sit 30 days to permit review by the general public. A copy of the ordinance with the revisions is located online at www.connellsville.org and within the city news section.

Weaver requested that any questions about the ordinance be referred to Currey.

Turning to other matters, council also conducted the following business:

n Appointed business owner Joe Mancuso to the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority. He replaces Todd Reagan, who served as authority board vice-chairman. Mancuso’s term will expire January 2016.

n Reappointed Rodney L. Gunderson to the Connellsville Municipal Authority board with his term to expire in January 2016.

n Exonerated the city from paying real estate taxes for certain properties, including the Connellsville Area Senior Center located at 100 E. Fayette St., $1,581; Connellsville Community Center, 201 E. Fairview Ave., $269 and the adjoining parking lot with a tax value of $44.

Accepted the resignation of John Lypson from the Connellsville Recreation Board.

Appointed Joe Ambrose Sr. to the Connellsville Senior Citizens Board with his term to expire in January 2016.

Exonerated the city from paying real estate taxes for 2007 through 2010 for the Aaron’s building, located at 139 N. Pittsburgh St., totaling $1,797. Councilman Brad Geyer, director of accounts and finance said that the city has requested that the county and the local school district take similar action in the matter.