posted
...the kind you don't get everyday. In this case, our town Planning & Zoning office (aka the Kremlin)has hired a new assistant Town Planner, with whom I had a good working arrangement in another nearby town. One of her first acts was to trick the Kremlin into letting her write a new preliminary statute to permit projecting signs, which up to now had been illegal. Best of all, she called ME to edit and make suggestions to the new sign code, with the express purpose of making sure the rules are workable and make sense. What a concept! The code is being edited and goes to public hearings later this month.
THIS IS HUGE!!! For years, I have been bugging the sleepwalking apparatchiks (aka "the slugs") at the Kremlin, and their boss, who is like a Stalin on quaaludes,(once month or so he wakes up long enough to have someone shot) to re-write sign code - the current rules are an absolute dog's breakfast of contradictions and idiocy - but between mis-filing applications, taking six weeks combined vacation/sick days each year (not to mention bribes on the golf course), they just haven't been able to find the time. This new person has done more actual work (as opposed to the usual Kremlin "work" of shuffling papers and either ignoring or staring balefully at visitors)in three months, than these old slugs have done in the last twenty years. Opportunities to actually make things better are so very rare, so I'm going to help this woman get something done before the old Kremlin slugs realize anything is changing and they start plotting to drive her out. Once new regs are in place, the slugs can lapse back into their usual routine of impersonating catatonic mental patients, while I'll be able to sell projecting signs without the fear of one of them waking up out of a coma and start sending "cease and desist" notices to my customers. Ain't life great?
------------------ "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson)
Cam Finest Kind Signs 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988"
Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Let me know when you're ready to talk to OUR city planner.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
posted
Pierre, normally I don't talk with anyone in Town Hall unless I'm allowed to carry a loaded revolver to the meeting. I'm sure you of all people would understand.
------------------ "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson)
Cam Finest Kind Signs 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988"
Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hey Cam, maybe you could set up a Federal division of "sign compliance", and appoint yourself the only cantidate to control same.
Now then, you pick a glorious name for this new fed. div. and travel round the nation for free, setting up better rules and regs. and visiting with letterheads !!!
Who wants to apply for Cams assistant ?
Roger
------------------ Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated Waikoloa, Hawaii
posted
Say, that IS huge! And so is your sense of humor. Who'd-a-thunk that would ever happen? The truth is if they'd consult with the sign people when cobbing together these abortions they'd find we are pretty conservative and realistic and fair. I don't want to see eighteen 88sq.ft. signs crammed onto every corner, but I'd damn sure like to be able to sell a job that fits the property rather than an inflexible code. I hope you can be a voice of reason Cam.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have some contradictions and indescrepancies identified in our code and the planners agree that this needs correcting. Problem is....there are several items, big items, that are higher priorities on their "to-do" list handed down from above. Changing ordinances can be a lengthy process of meetings and public noticing and attorney consultations. The word I get is that it might take up to two years to change, even though we all agree that the ordinance is wrongly written.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
My experience is that unless you have a person in P & Z who is committed to changing the code, it won't happen. They ALWAYS have priorities - and if that's not one of them, forget it. In our case it was a conjunction of events - the hiring of an energetic new person for whom this IS a priority, and a business owner (one of my customers) who specifically requested a code change to permit projecting signs. The "Kremlin" regulars don't care as long as they don't have to do any of the work - they're deeply involved in training for the Olympic Cadaver competition, which involves seeing how long a human body can remain absolutely motionless, without being declared legally dead (they have got as far as eight hours, five days a week, but are said to be vulnerable to failing the all-important Doughnut Proximity event).
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic