By Ashley M. Casey
Staff Writer
The North Syracuse Board of Trustees has not reached a decision on temporary-sign ordinances that regulate A-frame “sandwich” signs. A public hearing on the issue was held Oct. 13, but the board held off voting because village attorney Scott Chatfield has not finished drafting the proposed local law, which was discussed at the board’s Sept. 22 meeting.
Dave Robinson, a member of a committee tasked with investigating possible changes to the village’s temporary and electronic sign ordinances, said the committee recommends issuing quarterly permits for sandwich board signs. He also suggested businesses must remove these temporary signs from the front of their property when the business is closed.
As for electronic signs, Robinson said there is such variation among these signs that it is best for the village planning board to review electronic signs, following the example of the towns of Clay and Cicero.
“If you go down to Lonergan Park, you’ve got a very nice electronic sign. If you go to the city, you’ll see a billboard that looks like a giant TV set,” Robinson said.
One resident spoke at the public hearing. Rick Kaszubinski, who along with his wife Bonnie Kaszubinski owns Mystic Side Gift and Book Store on North Main Street, said the current sign ordinances are confusing. Kaszubinski said Mystic Side has two freestanding signs outside the store and two on the building.
“Technically, we have signage, but it’s on the glass,” Kaszubinski said, noting that the village code enforcement department assured him this complied with the village code.
Kaszubinski said he and his wife also use a sandwich board-style sign that they only place outside during their business hours, which run from noon to 8 p.m.
“We’ve never been addressed by anyone in the village about our signage at all,” Kaszubinski said. “I don’t even know what the existing code is, so I can neither agree or disagree.”
“It is a little confusing, so we’re trying to clarify it,” Mayor Gary Butterfield said.
The village board opted to table the issue until Chatfield has completed drafting the local law.
Village welcomes new deputy clerk
Also at the Oct. 13 meeting, the village board voted to confirm the appointment of Diane Ilacqua as deputy village clerk. Ilacqua replaces Julia Getman, who recently resigned.
“She comes to us from the village of Manlius, where she was for 12 years in the same position,” Butterfield said of Ilacqua. He thanked Getman for her service and added, “We were fortunate to find someone with similar experience.”
“Welcome to the world of Dianes — there’s now three of us in the office,” said Trustee Diane Browning.
Butterfield noted that Clerk-Treasurer Dianne Kufel has two N’s in her name, so he will have to distinguish among the Dianes when addressing them.
