Businesses concerned with sign bylaw caught up in procedural issues

Amherstburg Municipal Building.

A group of businesses attended the most recent meeting of town council hoping to speak, but will have to wait for another meeting.

Under the new business portion of the May 12 agenda, Councillor Diane Pouget hoped town council would waive the rules of order and allow at least one person to speak to the issue of the sign bylaw and the ability for businesses to place A-frame signs in front of their establishments. Such signage has been taken down in recent weeks and at least some business owners were seeking to have them put back up.

“At this time of year, it is critical for them. It’s critical for their businesses,” said Pouget of the A-frame signs. “They claim that their signs were not in any way detrimental to anyone in wheelchairs or those with disability issues.”

Mayor Michael Prue said usually there is something before council, such as a report from staff that had been requested by a council member. 

“The problem I have is if you do this, what about the people who are in wheelchairs? The people with baby strollers? The people who advocate against these signs? They’re not here.”

Pouget said she was not looking for a decision that night, stating a report will have to come back. She said what the businesses had to say could help manager of licensing and enforcement Bill Tetler if a report were to come back.

“He could be making some recommendations that could help (businesses) in the short-term,” said Pouget.

A request for a report at another meeting could mean another couple of weeks for business owners who would like to use their signs.

The request needed unanimous consent to allow for speakers, something it did not receive.

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb said he would “love to hear from these business owners,” stating he has heard from many already via e-mail. He further stated he was not in favour of doing so that night.

“I just can’t, in all good conscience, bring this issue up without providing public notice. To me, it’s absolutely unfair to all the other business owners that I’ve heard from, that didn’t know this was going to happen. It’s absolutely unfair to them,” said Gibb.

Gibb also questioned whether granting the request would comply with the Municipal Act due to a lack of public notice. There are those on the side of keeping the signs, he acknowledged, while others on the other side of the issue also would have wanted to speak.

“I understand why you’re here. I would have liked to have heard from you,” Gibb told the business owners in attendance. “Unfortunately, if the mover had followed procedure, we could have got to it quicker. I’m sorry. It’s just basic fairness. We just can’t discuss it without public notice.”

Councillor Linden Crain said town council passed a procedural bylaw for a reason and public notice needs to be provided. He said he was going to bring the issue of the sign bylaw up and said he communicated to them that a report has to be before council.

“I don’t support us waiving the rules of order. We’re going to be making a decision on the fly,” said Crain. “We’re not inviting other business owners, either for or against, to be able to speak tonight.”

Pouget said she had “a point of clarification” that she wanted a report to come to council. She said the business owners in attendance wanted to speak so their input could be part of the report. Pouget added others who want to speak at the next meeting could do the same thing.

“There’s no excuse why we couldn’t allow just one of them to speak,” she said.

Prue said those wanting to speak can reach out to Tetler with their concerns, he can include their input in a future report. 

Town council voted to have administration prepare a report on the sign bylaw, including A-frame signs. Pouget said she would like to have input from the bylaw inspector and building inspectors to allow for a compromise with the business community and others concerned with disability issues.

Pouget added some businesses have had signs up for over 20 years without any situations whatsoever. Councillor Peter Courtney also encouraged correspondence from the business owners to council so everyone can have an idea on what the issues are, clarity on the points that are being brought up and the positions of administration.

Crain said the sign bylaw has already passed and covered AODA issues. He asked the report be tailored to the feedback council has been receiving on the A-frame sign issues.

Businesses concerned with sign bylaw caught up in procedural issues

By Ron Giofu