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Highlands Today

LP merchants discuss town's sign ordinance

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By BILL ROGERS

Highlands Today

Published: October 4, 2009

LAKE PLACID - The Lake Placid Merchants Association received plenty of input from business owners as well as others regarding the town's sign ordinance Thursday night.

Approximately 40 people attended a meeting sponsored by the association at the Masonic Lodge.

"There was a lot of good discussion," said Robert Brown, the president of the association. "We have a lot to digest."

According to Brown, the association would like the ordinance to be easier to understand and more business friendly. The group would also like to see improved enforcement of it.

Brown said the association is not interested in replacing the entire ordinance. He said the focus should be on the future and how the ordinance will impact business people and the community.

Brown said the association also hopes to educate merchants about the ordinance. He added that there are several business owners who are not familiar with it.

"There has been a lot of misunderstanding," he said.

Lake Placid Councilman Ray Royce attended the meeting and talked about the process of changing the ordinance.

Lake Placid Police Chief Phil Williams also spoke and went over violations of the ordinance.

Williams said there have been 939 violations in the last three years. He noted they all didn't result in a fine.

The chief said he is neutral on the ordinance and "will try to enforce it the way it is written."

Brown said the association is not committed to a time frame and has no set deadline for proposing changes to the town council.

"It will be sooner than later," he said. "We'll know when we are ready to move."

Brown said he wants the community to have an opportunity to look at whatever is proposed.

"We want the community support before we go to the council," he said.

Brown noted that the association is still seeking comments and suggestions about the ordinance. He may be reached at 465-4985.

Bill Rogers can be reached at 863-386-5825 or wrogers@highlandstoday.com

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