Commissioners Still Differ on Rules for Banners
A sponsored banner hangs this week over Kings Highway after commissioners rejected a similar banner from a church earlier this month.
Borough commissioners Tuesday admitted a policy on banning sponsored banners over streets in the historic district was still developing, even though they voted to reject a church banner with a sponsor earlier this month.
A banner with the name of engineering firm of Remington & Vernick across the top hangs this week over Kings Highway near Haddon Avenue. The banner advertises a Lions Club event.
The commissioners rejected a banner from Grace Church earlier this month because it included two sponsors in the bottom corners. Mayor Tish Colombi, one of three borough commissioners, said the Remington & Vernick banner was grandfathered into its developing policy on banners, and that similar banners that already had sponsors on them would be allowed to hang if no changes had been made to them since the new policy has been enforced.
Commissioner Jeff Kasko, an opponent to the ban that Colombi and Commissioner Ed Borden supported, pointed out the Remington & Vernick sign had changed a date on it from previous years which does constitute a change. The discussion took place before a commissioner's business meeting Tuesday.
"How do we police this?" Kasko asked.
"We need to see the banners before they go up," Colombi countered. "We need some way to check on them to make sure they are not changed."
Colombi and Borden said Tuesday that there are no regulations concerning whether sponsors can be on banners in the historic district. They said they rejected a request from Grace Church for a sponsored banner because they submitted a drawing of the banner ahead of time.
The commissioners earlier this month discussed requiring existing banners with sponsors on them to have the sponsors covered. They said Tuesday that policy has not been finalized and they plan to have a public discussion about it in a future commissioners meeting.
Remington & Vernick is the borough's engineering firm.
Herb Hess
8:16 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
How bankrupt is our Commission when it comes to helping this Boro's businesses thrive. Remington and Vernick have a lock on Municipal Engineering business as a result of business practices that I find unacceptable. If there is a policy against sponsorship then it must be universal.
Sponsorship, or Partnership as the Boro calls it (for example, when they can no longer afford to take down trees on the park strip the Boro will "partner" with residents allowing them to pay for 1/2 of what the Boro should pay entirely for) is normal. Non-profits need partners and partners need customers to grow and prosper.
Our Commissioners should be focused on debt-reduction, efficient service delivery, and supporting appropriate growth in the Boro. Instead we micromanage details and miss the big picture.
Leave the banners alone and get on with fixing the big issues.
Bob
8:32 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Correction: Remington and Vernick have been GODfathered...
Jim
8:41 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Less regualtions and support businesses. Commsssioners.reduce taxes, fix the roads reduce pesnion and health benefits so we have more cash flow to fix our old roads and infrastruture.
Sue Martin
9:30 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The banner for the Lizzie Haddon Basketball Invitational is an example of an unacceptable banner. The sponsorship is the first line, where the event should appear. The Borough's business arrangements with Remington and Vernick are probably due for a look to see if their services can be acquired elsewhere for less money--and accepting a banner with that corporation's name across the top is wrong, politically and esthetically. Any sponsorships should be less prominent in the design of the banner. Sponsorships are fine, but an amendment to the ordinance should be made with design and placement stipulations.
Bumpkin
10:33 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
BAH - Take a look at where Remington and Vernick have made campaign contributions in the commissioners' elections over the last few cycles and you will understand why their name emblazons the Kings Highway.
John
5:33 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
According to public records, in 2001 Remington and Vernick gave $1,000 to Colombi for commissioner campaign. Also, in 2005 two employees of Remington and Vernick or their household members with the same last name gave $2,000 to Colombi for commissioner campaign.
gary
11:56 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The date on the banner says Mothers Day weekend when in fact it's the weekend before.May 5th and 6th.are the dates.another reason to check banners before they go up.