HRM failed to check bylaws before purchasing community centre sign

Fall River (D2N) – It seems the HRM failed to check its own bylaws when purchasing the sign-age for the Gordon R. Snow Community Centre – the scroll sign that was erected at the front of the new centre does not comply with the zoning bylaws where it is located in Fall River. The sign, which is estimated by the city to have cost between $40,000 and $50,000, once showed the temperature, the time, and it also listed information about programs being held at the Rec. Center. Now, it appears the expensive scroll sign may have been purchased for nothing.

Councillor Barry Dalrymple confirmed the information, saying a stop order was indeed issued and the sign was temporarily shut down at the Rec. Centre – according to the bylaws, the constant scrolling sign is too distracting to drivers.

Dalrymple said he became aware of the issue when he received a phone call from the Inn On The Lake, six or seven months ago. “They called and asked for a small scroll sign in their larger sign,” he explained. “I said yes, that should be simple.”

However Dalrymple was informed by the person he was speaking to, that the HRM had turned down the request from the Inn on the Lake. I said, “How can the HRM turn you down, when the Rec. Centre has a large sign with a scroll?”

The Councillor says he placed a called to the HRM’s Planning Department in Sackville, in an attempt to get answers regarding the situation. “I asked how this could be,” he said. “I was told the HRM could not approve the request from the Inn On The Lake, because it goes against the zoning bylaw. I pointed out we had a scroll sign at the Rec Centre, and asked them to approve a scroll sign for the Inn On The Lake, but they said no.” A stop order was issued for the Rec. Centre sign.

Similar signs are located throughout the HRM, ”There are a number of scroll signs throughout the municipality,” said Dalrymple. “Along Sackville Drive there may be a sign that is legally allowed to be in front of one business, while just down the street, a similar sign is not allowed.” In Fall River, no scroll signs are allowed, not at all.

“Apparently, the HRM did not apply for the correct permit,” said Dalrymple. He could not give the exact reason for the mistake, but surmised it may have been due to the rush to get the building open last year.

The company that built the sign is from the United States,” said Dalrymple.  “We had to go through them and reprogram it. ” The result is that the scroll sign in front of the new Rec Centre no longer has a variety of changing messages. There is a limit as to how often the message can rotate. “We are allowed to change it once each day,” said Dalrymple.

The problem is but one of a number of troubles plaguing the multi-million dollar centre. The centre is still without a permanent resolution to the water issue, which has been on-going since the building opened in February, 2009.