The Board of Public Works approved the application submitted by the Greater Westfield Rotary Club to erect three signs along city streets.
The Board also voted last night to table a request submitted by the Westfield Kiwanis Club to attach three banners downtown.
Rotary President Mark Boardman requested permits to erect four signs at the board’s April 10 meeting, two cautionary signs and two promotional signs, along four major routes into Westfield.
The signs were originally intended to be displayed on either side of the city’s two bridges over the Westfield River, but were removed in January after the club was notified that a city permit, issued by the BPW, was required under city ordinance. The club applied for a permit and a hearing was conducted at the board’s Feb. 14, 2012 session.
The Rotary Club of Westfield requested the Board of Public Works to allow the withdrawal, without prejudice, of that original application because of complaints from residents and the Kiwanis Club of Westfield.
The club proposed, at the April meeting to erect two cautionary signs urging motorists to “Drive Carefully, Protect Our Children” along Franklin Street by the municipal park and on Montgomery Road by Westfield High School.
The proposed location for the two signs promoting the Westfield Rotary Club was proposed for the Clay Hill section of North Elm Street and for Western Avenue near Stanley Park. Boardman said the Western Avenue location was proposed because of the club’s sponsorship of the July 4 fireworks display conducted at the park.
All four of the 24-by-36-inch signs bear the Rotary International logo and the Westfield Rotary Club’s email address. The signs would be erected on standard sign poles and displayed six-feet off the ground.
Boardman requested the board’s approval to withdraw the application for the Western Avenue sign following the public hearing during which residents of Western Avenue voiced their opposition.
The BPW members discussed the Rotary’s petition of the remaining three signs last night following the public hearing of the Kiwanis’ permit petition to attach two banners on Elm Street near the clock tower located just south of the bridges over the Westfield River and a third at Park Square.
The Kiwanis banners would be hung from utility poles and would be similar in design to those of the Business Improvement District.
Kiwanis President Adam Wright said that 68 poles in the downtown area are equipped with the banner brackets, with 30 now occupied by BID banners.
“We’d make sure they stay in pristine condition,” Wright said.
The board members were more receptive to the banner request than to the sign proposal and asked Boardman if his organization would consider banners instead of the signs.
Boardman said the club has already spent more than $300 to purchase the signs.
City Engineer Mark Cressotti said the banners are intended to “advertise Westfield and the business district” and suggested that the banners have a “consistent theme” for aesthetic reasons.
The board voted 2-1 to allow the Rotary three signs, with Commissioner Jack Campaniello voting against each separate sign motion.
“My discussion is no more signs,” he said. “I want to look at banners.”
Commissioner Joe Spagnoli, who voted to approve the Rotary signs, said he also preferred the banner approach, but was concerned that other groups would also seek a banner permit.
“The permits are not forever,” he said. “If the banners get out of control, next year we’ll reduce the number (of banner permits approved).”
