NEWBURYPORT — Bill Silliker must take his Licorice and Sloe sign off State Street, and he said his business may soon fold up, too.

In an effort to clear downtown streets of clutter from numerous A-frame signs advertising the shops and restaurants on side streets, the City Council has rejected applications from nearly a dozen businesses seeking to put signs out.

While some councilors sympathized with the plight of downtown businesses off the beaten path, others questioned whether they had any benefit at all.

Silliker insists the sign could be the difference between staying open and closing. He said he and wife were in the process of coming up with a plan for the shop's future without the income that the sign brings in. Silliker said the shop might reduce its hours and he might go back to his former career while his wife works at the tea house. The couple have a 2-year-old daughter.

"Do I believe this will put me out of business? Quite possibly ... possibly faster than anyone expects," Silliker said.

Councilor Larry McCavitt rejected that argument, calling it "specious."

"I, for one, am not convinced," he said. "These signs are proliferating all over town. ... They don't do Newburyport one bit of good."

The council voted on 14 applications, denying all but three. Other businesses that were denied approval included Rocas, Praline's Bake Shop, Stella's, Plum Island Kayak, Jewel In the Crown, Boston Chowda Co. and Port City Tours.

The A-frame signs can be seen throughout the downtown streets, and business owners say they rely on them to attract business and let customers know where they are.

The majority of the applications were rejected for failing to meet the requirements of the city's ordinance, at-large Councilor Kathleen O'Connor Ives said. Those that were rejected were asking for permission to place the sign at an intersection or farther away from their business.

The current ordinance says signs must be adjacent to the building, no farther than 4 feet from the front door and require a $50 permit from City Hall.

The city has no control over A-frames that are placed on private land.

Some in the city think the signs should be banned because of the clutter they cause, feeling they ruin the aesthetics of the historic area and cause a hazard for pedestrians. Others say the signs just need to be conformed to a certain style and the rules enforced.

Councilors first voted to deny Silliker his sign in a 3-5 vote. Voting to reject the application were Councilors Brian Derrivan, Larry McCavitt and Ives. Voting against denial were Councilors Ed Cameron, Greg Earls, Tom Jones, Tom O'Brien and Donna Holaday. Councilor Steve Hutcheson recused himself from the vote, and Councilors Connell and Shanley were absent. In a second vote — to accept a petition for a variance — also by a 3-5 vote. A two-thirds majority was needed for approval.

Several councilors advocated for granting Silliker a variance, saying he is the exception that the ordinance is meant for.

"If we're going to follow the spirit (of the ordinance), we need to approve it," said Earls, who represents the downtown area. Earls noted the application for the Licorice and Sloe sign states a specific location and a specific size.

Holaday said she doesn't like the signs, but that the argument from business owners and customers must be listened to. The council must work with the chamber to get better, appropriate signage in the works, Holaday said, pointing to a growing number of vacant storefronts downtown.

Ives said yesterday that the License and Permits Committee wants to be helpful to businesses not directly located on State Street, noting that a downtown directory is in the works and there is a possibility to erect "North Pole signs" — a sign on corners that point the way to different businesses without causing the sidewalks to be cluttered.