By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — One Naples selectman got a little hot under the collar over the town not setting a good example by replacing the burned-out sign in front of fire barn with something that exemplifies the modified Sign Ordinance.

For now, a replacement sign has been ordered with a hope for arrival date of early August.

When Selectman Kevin Rogers learned that the same kind of sign — a plastic internally lit sign — had been ordered to upgrade the existing, non-functioning sign, he was not happy.

“It’s just that the plastic black and white, interior-illuminated sign has already been the biggest thorn in my side. When Windham was the worst town you could ever drive through, it was all about the black and white interior illuminated signs and how ghetto they were,” Rogers said.

“It will be better than it was,” he said, sarcastically adding, “It is going to be the exact same sign as before it burnt, but better than that.”

The topic that turned hot started out innocently enough. Last week — at the tail end of the Naples Select Board meeting — Selectman Rogers asked about the progress on replacing the fire department’s reader sign.

Naples Town Manager Jason Rogers responded with what he viewed as progress: a new sign was being shipped.

“For the backlit sign, we went through a couple ideas. None of them were good. It was taking way too long. So the company that originally did the sign — they are just putting two Lexan signs that will update the information on the sign and replace the old one,” he said.

The sign is made out of Lexan, which is a strong, durable plastic. Lexan is also known for its optical clarity.

The total cost, including the installation, will be less than $2,500, according to Town Manager Rogers. The cost will be covered through the fire department’s annual budget, he said.

The town already paid the deposit on the digital sign, he told the board.

Board members asked how soon the ordered sign might arrive.

“I do not have an estimated delivery date.  The order was made approximately two weeks ago, and my initial time was four weeks to get the panels. So, by early August,” Jason Rogers answered.

Selectman Rogers expressed his displeasure.

“I am going to say that I am pretty bummed that we didn’t do anything good for that. We didn’t go the extra mile to make the sign into an example for our community. It’s kind of a drag to me. I am pretty bummed to hear that news because we are really trying to increase the visual appeal of our Main Street. That sign does not add to the visual appeal of our core,” he said.

Selectman Bill Adams agreed.

“It is still putting lipstick on a pig. We want to make this giant wooden sign above it and this giant LED sign below it,” Adams said.

Selectman Rogers advocated for town decisions that make upward progress.

“We make it a little better. You don’t make it the same or worse. You make it a little better. You bring up the quality,” he said.

Adams said putting up a new sign IS making it better.

Town Manager Rogers said he sympathized with board members’ frustration but replacing the sign had been procrastinated long enough. 

“The one there has been burnt for how long? How long ago it did it catch on fire? It’s been a minute. I wanted to at least get that one replaced. I think a wood surround around the metal poles would probably look great. I think absolutely there is more that we could do with that sign,” he said.

“Right now, I want it to look not as bad as it currently does,” Jason Rogers concluded.

He switched gears and talked about opportunities in the future to improve the sign, especially if a public parking lot is put in or the recreation center ends up being constructed on the land between the fire station and the Naples Veterinary Clinic.

Kevin Rogers served on the Naples Ordinance Review Committee when the Sign Ordinance was coming into focus. The ordinance was designed to prohibit businesses from putting up certain types of signs in the Village District and the Causeway District.

“It is just Naples not being a good example of what we are trying to achieve,” he explained.

“You’ve already ordered it. That’s fine. It’ll be better than a half-melted sign,” Selectman Rogers said.