NEWBURYPORT — Bil Silliker, the owner of Licorice and Sloe Co. on Middle Street, said that without the A-frame sign he puts on the corner of State Street, he would struggle to stay in business.
"We're small little people, who are trying to make a living. Without that sign, I'm out of business," he said.
But of the dozen or so people who met at the bullnose of Market Square late yesterday afternoon to discuss standardizing the regulations for A-frame signs downtown, it seemed all had a different idea on what city officials should do.
The city's current rules say the signs must be adjacent to the building, no farther than 4 feet from the front door and require a $50 permit from City Hall.
If those rules are not followed, business owners can get fined up to $100 a day.
Some in the city think the signs should be banned because of clutter they create, which they think ruins the aesthetics of the historic area. Others say the signs just need to be conformed to a certain style and the rules enforced.
Still others say the city needs a different kind of signage, such as so-called "North Pole" signs at each corner with directional signage to businesses.
Chuck and Ann Lagasse, who attended the meeting and manage many of the downtown businesses, said they are in favor of banning A-frame signs. They say they clutter the street, ruin the historic feel and are only growing in numbers and will continue to further populate the brick-lined sidewalks.
"I do believe signage is becoming sign litter," Ann Lagasse said.
"It is out of control," said Chuck Lagasse, who advocated copying sign regulations from another historical city, such as Colonial Williamsburg.
He added: "We don't have to blaze a new trail here."
Larry McCavitt, Ward 1 city councilor and member of the License and Permits Committee, said he also thinks getting rid of the A-frames is the best solution.
"I'm for banning them completely," he said.
The meeting yesterday at times grew contentious with many different viewpoints coming to the forefront. Along with Silliker and the Lagasses, representatives from businesses such as Abraham's Bagels and Pizza, The Boston Chowda Co. and Simply Sweet attended the meeting.
There seemed to be some common ground, though, with most of the attendees about the so-called North Pole signs. The signs, which would be put up on the corners of State and Liberty streets, for example, would indicate which businesses are down the side streets.
Linda Garcia, the owner of Abraham's, said that such a sign could help.
"I think that would be a great start," she said.
Kathleen O'Connor Ives, chairwoman of the License and Permits Committee, also said the signs could be a good starting point. The idea was first brought up last year as a solution to the A-frame problem.
"It may not be the solution, but I think it should be back on the table," she said. "It could be part of the solution."
But Silliker voiced concern. He said the reason his wooden, handmade A-frame sign works is because he can advertise daily specials for things like sandwiches and drinks.
"It is nice," he said about the directional signs, "but it is not helpful. It is a static sign."
Ives said she plans to schedule another meeting to continue addressing the signs.
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