The Defense Committee on December 17 approved changes to the town’s sign ordinance targeting electronic message centers, voting to treat two‑faced EMCs as a single sign, to limit the pixel pitch of exterior EMCs to 8 millimeters or smaller, and to require dark‑colored backgrounds with lighter information or graphics.

Committee members began the discussion during continuing business after receiving draft language and supporting materials from Lincoln Park and other municipalities. Speaker 3 proposed adding a clarifying phrase to subsection f to ensure a double‑sided EMC with identical messages counts as a single EMC; the motion carried after the chair read the proposed wording and the committee voted unanimously.

The committee spent substantial time distinguishing two categories of digital displays: low‑resolution alphanumeric message boards (the classic black field with changing letters) and higher‑resolution EMCs capable of graphic content. Speaker 5 recommended separating those types in the ordinance so rules on resolution, color and illumination target higher‑resolution, graphic displays rather than simpler alphanumeric boards.

On technical standards, members reviewed pixel pitch and readability. Panelists and members said smaller pixel pitch yields higher resolution; examples cited included exterior signs commonly made at 6mm or 8mm pitch, with 8mm presented as a reasonable limit for town streets and pedestrian contexts. Speaker 4 moved to add an item defining pixel pitch for EMCs as 8 millimeters or smaller; the motion (recorded in the transcript as a motion by Val, second by Scott) was approved.

The committee also debated visual contrast and light pollution. Members agreed the ordinance should favor a dark‑colored background with lighter‑colored information or graphics to reduce overall luminous output. A motion requiring EMCs to use a dark background with light information or graphics was read into the record, seconded and passed unanimously.

Finally, members clarified how marquees will be handled. After reviewing definitions from other municipalities and Webster’s dictionary, the committee amended subsection f to explicitly include marquees — two opposing faces with identical information — as a single EMC so that projecting theater marquees are not treated as multiple permitted signs. That amendment passed and will be incorporated into a clean draft.

The committee asked staff to prepare a clean copy of the revised ordinance language for the next meeting so members can review it before sending it to legal and the planning board. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Jan. 21 at 5 p.m.

Members recorded unanimous votes on each of the measures discussed; individual roll‑call tallies were not read into the record during the meeting.

Key motions: a clarifying amendment that a double‑sided EMC with identical messaging counts as one EMC; a specification that exterior EMC pixel pitch be 8mm or smaller; and a requirement that EMCs have dark‑colored backgrounds and light‑colored information or graphics. The committee directed staff to produce a clean draft for legal and planning review at the next meeting.