Selectmen review proposed changes to town sign ordinance; temporary sign timeframe shortened

The Rangeley Board of Selectmen reviewed proposed edits to the town's sign ordinance (Chapter 38), discussing new and revised definitions, rules for temporary signs, calculations for commercial sign area and changes to window decals and banners. Donald, presenting the ordinance changes, said new definitions include "animated sign" and clarified the permit and labeling process. He told the board the time frame for temporary signs was reduced from 90 days to six weeks in the proposed language. "The time frame for temporary sign is now 6 weeks as opposed to 90 days," he said. Other edits include updated municipal facility definitions and an example calculation for multiple businesses on a single lot: a 32-square-foot base plus 12 square feet for each additional business on the same lot. "So 32 square feet plus 12 plus 12 plus 12 equals the total number of square footage," Donald said, describing the code enforcement and police committee's interest in that calculation. The draft also removes banners and pennants language and alters the window decal provision; some language on externally illuminated signage was stricken. Board members noted a separate item on internally illuminated signs will be addressed later and that draft language for that topic is expected for the annual town meeting cycle. "We are going to take [internally illuminated signs] up as a different section...we do not plan to have that ready until the annual town meeting," a selectman said. Selectmen requested visual aids and a permit appendix to assist applicants and enforcement staff with the new rules. One selectman said the visual aids had been discussed with staff and asked for a larger set of permit illustrations; staff said they had requested a 24-by-36 visual aid. No final vote on the ordinance was recorded at the meeting; the draft will proceed through legal review and further staff and committee work before a future hearing or vote.