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Rangeley committee limits electronic message centers to 32 sq ft, bans animation; keeps 5‑minute minimum
Summary
On Nov. 19 the Rangeley ordinance committee advanced revisions to the town's sign ordinance that cap electronic message centers (EMCs) at 32 square feet, ban animated or transitional effects and require instantaneous message changes; the committee retained a 5‑minute minimum display time by a 3–1 vote.
The Rangeley ordinance committee on Nov. 19 moved forward with revisions to the town's sign ordinance that set new limits for internally illuminated and electronic message center (EMC) signs, including a 32‑square‑foot cap, a prohibition on animation and a five‑minute minimum display time.
The committee accepted earlier drafting edits and approved initial subsections of the EMC language unanimously, then amended point c to remove a proposed limit tying EMC size to 75% of an existing sign and instead specified that “in no case shall an electronic message center exceed 32 square feet,” the committee decided. That change was adopted unanimously after members debated multi‑tenant and double‑sided sign scenarios.
Why it matters: committee members said the changes balance business flexibility with community livability and lighting concerns. Linda, a committee member, argued signs should shut off at close of business for dark‑sky reasons, saying, “I think that’s what dark sky is looking for; I think 10 seems a little late.” Supporters of the 32‑sq. ft. cap said it keeps EMCs consistent with static sign limits while allowing room for multi‑tenant adjustments described elsewhere in the draft.
Other significant provisions the committee adopted or approved during the meeting include: a motion to move the EMC definition into the ordinance’s definitions section for consistency; a ban on flashing, blinking or pulsating effects; a requirement that message changes occur instantaneously with no fades or slides; and a requirement that EMCs be able to freeze or discontinue the display if a malfunction occurs. The committee approved the animation/motion language unanimously after clarifying that the intent is to prohibit transitional motion rather than to create an allowance for movement.
On display timing, some members urged a longer minimum interval, citing a Maine guideline that recommends 20 minutes between changes. A committee member who tested visibility during a site visit said the town’s short travel distances and sightlines make rapid changes feasible, while others worried a short interval would let signs change too frequently in dense commercial stretches. A motion to adopt the longer (20‑minute) interval failed; the committee then voted 3–1 to retain the existing five‑minute minimum display time.
Formal actions recorded during the meeting included several unanimous approvals on draft subsections and the 3–1 vote to keep the five‑minute display minimum. The committee also approved moving the EMC definition into the definitions section and scheduled its next meeting for Dec. 3 at 5 p.m.
What’s next: the committee flagged a few items for further refinement — including precise language about multi‑tenant signs and how to count square footage per lot versus per business — and said it will revisit transitional wording and timing in a future meeting. The ordinance drafts and additional edits will return to the committee for further review before any ballot or council action.
The committee recorded no formal legal citations during debate beyond references to a state guideline on display timing; the draft repeatedly cites the town’s signage chapter (noted in the meeting as Section 38.10).
