Council urges review of Newburgh Museum QR-code 'time travel' signs over placement, liability and design

Members of the Town of Newburgh council spent an extended portion of the Oct. 20 meeting discussing a proposed Newburgh Museum "time travel" signage project that would use QR codes to show historical images.

Councilmembers expressed multiple practical and aesthetic concerns: whether signs would be mounted on existing light poles or on private property, whether the QR codes would be placed high enough to be scanned (especially by children), and whether adding several signs in a row would create visual clutter near the flagpole and existing wayfinding plaques. One councilmember recalled past litigation related to banners that hung too low and warned the town should avoid repeating that problem.

Councilmembers asked that town staff and the museum board work together to: verify placement options (pole vs. building-mounted), confirm who will pay for mounting and installation, check whether existing plaques or brick walls would be damaged by moving them, and evaluate temporary versus permanent mounting approaches. Several members asked staff to delay ordering any signs until the council has had a chance to evaluate final designs and mounting plans.

Town Manager Chris Cook and other staff said they will follow up with the museum and report back. Discussion included technical suggestions (using building-mounted signs where town-owned buildings permit, or temporary ground-mounted markers for walking tours) and consulting regional design resources for a more professional, uniform look.

What happens next: council directed staff to coordinate with the museum board and provide a formal review and recommendations before the council moves forward with ordering or installing signs.