I heard about it but I didnt believe it. Till today.
A few towns out from me on Cape Cod there's a sign 'code enforcer' who has determined that wooden signs are to be banned from town as fire hazards. Yes folks, its true. The town is Wellfleet Mass and the inspector is apparently one of those independent, rebellious souls the Cape is known for. (Lunatics is more like it).
I heard of this some months ago but it came to roost today when I needed to sell a job in that town. The store owner told me he was greviously warned not to bring in any permit applications that specified wood. This is CAPE COD FERCRIPESAKE!!! It was built on carved wood signs! I can't wait for the inspector to start handing out citations for existing non-conforming signs - the town will be stripped bare. What is the world coming to? This will ultimately end in a losing law suit for the town.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
These kinds of dorks make for some real good creative thinking on our part... and there's always some sneaky way around these guys which is completely legal. Stupidness can't be legislated or enforced.
And believe me there's nothing more satisfying than beating them at their own rediculous game.
Hmmmmmmm.... gotta be a way....
Makes a fellow wonder just how many wood signs have caught spontaniously caught fire or self-combusted and taken valuable buildings with them when they burned.
-dan
[ May 02, 2003, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Look out Joe next is "ceda" shingles on houses haha oh I got it replace em with asbestos, thats fire proof.
What a freaking idiot!!!!
Posted by Jeremy Vecoli (Member # 2278) on :
Say on the permit application that the sign substrate is "interlocked cellulose fiber panel" Sounds a lot better than "wood".
Posted by Fred Weiss (Member # 3662) on :
Are there similar changes to the building codes requiring all new construction to be wood free? If not then they're probably wide open for a challenge.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Idunno...sounds like Sign Mecca to me.
Take advantage of the situation, find a good new substrate and sell... sell... sell...then send this goofball the commissions, maybe you'll get lucky and he'll accept, then while he's incarcerated maybe just maybe you can slip in a little wood while no ones lookin. Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
Might as well outlaw wood boats too...it'd make about as much sense ..............fire hazard eh ? I thought they were more of a flying objects hazard !
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
I always see the positive side of things I guess. I'm going to move up there and start selling HDU houses. Figure they could sell for a fortune with all the trim, doors, windows all hand carved....Gotta be worth somewhere around $5 million a home.
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
Cape Cod is a truly screwed up place when it comes to building materials and anything esthetic that might disagree with some committee members perception of historic "appropriate-ness". Another town the opposite direction from me (Chatham, MA) held up a church's expansion project over a year while they haggled over the "appropriate-ness" of asbestos roof shingles. The church was forced to use the more costly wood cedar shingles on its huge roof. As petty, anal, bizarre as it sounds, THAT is the kind of thinking I have come to expect out here, and all the more reason the Wellfleet sign inspector's edict will not stand long. The rest of the town fathers must be absolutely groaning over this. How embarassing in the land of 'older is better'. Maybe he's trying to get fired or something.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
had the same thing in sarasota..i put up a mdo sign on a metal pole....which had an electric sign above it....fire dept said it was a fire hazard!!!!!! did they ever see what plastic face signs do in a fire?
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Bob
Sorry man.. (HDU) Take a off cut, and hold a match to it and see what happens! It is worst then "Wood" for flamiblity. Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
....have one of those outdoor adv. billboards put up....they're about 1/2 fireproof, put this "enforcers" face on it with the following copy: "IS THIS WHERE YOUR TAX DOLLARS NEED TO BE? WITH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AT HEART? CHANGE SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTIVE AND COMMUNITY ENHANCING....LET"S GET RID OF THIS HINDERANCE!" ......................................Man, they'd probably make you Mayor if you did this, Hahhaha! Posted by Stephen Faulkner (Member # 2511) on :
What a wonderful opportunity for the Mass Mayhem attendees!!! I'm thinkin Saturday night aftah boozin it up we pile into our pick-ups, SUV's and vans and head on over to the town office.... maybe dump a huge pile of sawdust in the yard and panel slam the code enforcement office. I'm thinkin kindah like a Letterhead/Pinhead Boston tea party thing. Or maybe we carve a big mahogany dog turd and all autograph it and present it to the Sign Nazi himself. I bet Karyn can come up with some appropriate verbage for the dedication.
Posted by Glenn Thompson (Member # 1851) on :
Nest thing youu know, they'll be outlawing sandwich boards too!
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
This is fairly typical of the nasty little commissars that infest the small-town kremlins of New England. Schit for brains, with the only thought between their ears being "how do I make life as miserable for everyone else as my bitchy wife and greedy screeching kids make it for me?" There is a reason New England was once the leader in creative public punishment for as*holes. Think about what a week or so in the stocks would do for this genius.
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
Sounds Like Big Head Little Job Syndrome. But Remember his Job is "Code Enforcement" Not "Code whatever I like Maker" Has the code been changed by council and is it in print.. Just because he dosen't want wood signs doesn't mean crapola if its not in writing and if he tried to enforce some non-exsistant law he would be liable and open for a law suit. We had a similar problem once in Colorado over projecting signs. So I researced it then got myself apointed to the Planning and zoning commision.. Boy did the Kitties fly then.
Posted by J.G. Kurtzman (Member # 1736) on :
Joe; I can only reflect back on what the late "Will Rogers" once said about politicians. Quote... "when we makes jokes people laugh, when politicians make jokes the turn into laws". This appointed public servant may also reflect the mentality of those above him, and will continue to comment on things they don't fully understand. I would chect his background to see how popular he has been on other jobs, or just start a rumor about him, better yet have his ex wife support your rumor.
J.G. Kurtzman
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
You guys are so funny. (and gals)
This cat seems to be typical of (nearly) every building inspector I have ever met. Well hated by the building community for a long history of beligerent, illogical stands over what should be non-issues. Frankly I'm surprised inspectors don't show up missing or dead daily around the nation. I have to keep a mental diary on each individual to remember what their particular quirks are. Some are just inept (couldn't pour water out of a boot if the instructions were printed on the bottom). Others start sh*t because its the one place in their miserable lives they can be in charge. I'm convinced that some are true meglomaniacs, Ceasars on a mission to conquer all who would oppose them.
Posted by Talisman (Member # 1869) on :
Joe, YIKES!
I just completed sandblasting a double sided 3' x 3' redwood sign slated for hanging outside a new shop on Main St. in Hyannis... its ready for primer...
Looks like it may end up as a wall ornament somewhere.
Thanks for the heads up. I will surely bring this up with any future potential Cape Cod sign clients.
Joe
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
Haha, I think you're safe Joe. Its only in the outer Cape towns with one Dictator that this could happen. Hyannis, the metropolis that it is, actually encourages business proliferation.
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