Sandwich signs OK for now

Board agrees to create new law that will set the limits Vernon — In a victory for local business owners who want to use sandwich signs to promote their business, the Vernon Town Council reversed its position and voted to permit them — for another three months. In the meantime, the council has asked its committee studying the signs to move forward to draft a new law that will describe how sandwich signs may be used. At the Feb. 11 Town Council meeting, this victory was secured by Gary Martenson, owner of The Nordic House on Route 94. Martenson was seeking, at the very least, a moratorium on the township law which had prohibited these free-standing signs in front of area businesses. This is not the first time he has brought the matter before the board. Martenson originally fought and won a special ordinance for the use of these signs during the winter holidays, which ended on Jan. 19. He then presented this cause again at the Jan. 28 meeting and has been involved with the Sign Committee to try to get an ordinance passed allowing sandwich signs for area businesses. It hasn’t been easy. Citing the declining economy, Martenson said that the sign he put out that is visible to traffic as it passes his business “made a huge difference when I had it out” and that “everything doubled.” While council had initially planned to end the temporary use of such signs last month, Martenson’s pitch to continue their use was well received. “I hear the value of the sandwich board signs,” said Mayor Sally Rinker. Councilmember Michael Pier agreed that the signs are valuable to local business owners and said that if he saw a sign for a special deal, he would be likely to “pull in.” Pier then said he “agrees with the signs and if we can do it tonight... will vote yes for it.”