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Conformity needede... Townto regulate sign'use The mass of 'mobi] and portable signs tha seem to clutter up thi commercial strip aloni DundasStreet wil sool by strictly- regulatedi the Town of Whitby hai its way. At Monday's meetini of the administrativi committee the new sigi bylaw was introduced t( couneillors and thi public for the first time.ý 1According to : Bot Short, .director of plan- ning and. author of the bylaw, the measure is designed to give some conformity to the use of signs tbroughout the town. The bylaw, when passed, will make people "more easily aware of what regulations apply. to what site. " S"There is a need for equity between si miliar usages, " Short says.. According to town planner Mark Tutton is biggest problem th e 'town faces is the proliferation of mobile signs scattered thrughout the town. "Many of, the signs are in the road allowan- ce, and prove -,te be a distraction to the mot orist," he told the committee.'. Many are placed near the entran- ce and exit of lots and make it difficuit for the motorist to see on- coming traffic when leaving. Under the proposed bylaw these portable signs wili be limited to one per lot. The town will also restrict there usage to twice a year with each time period being further restricted to 10 weeks. Other signs, such as biliboards, ground and pylon signs will also have to meet the town's new set of standards on- ce the measure is on the books. Whitby residents were aise present at« the meeting to voice their coneerns. Ed Smith of Bellwood le Drive complained about at the .number Of e developer's- signs in bis 'g neighbourhood. ýn ' These signs, designed if to help people in finding is new subdivisions,ý are often not only too tal g but are placed too, close 'e to the road -and 'toofar n> away from the o development as well as e being poorly con- struced, Smith told the b cem.mîttee. 1- Thirese signs are. B sprouting up ahl over the 3place.. and they're not going to be elimninated f for our benefit" even *when the bylaw is passed, he added. 1 Dennis Fox of Kirby, Cres. said that he had no objectionf to signs being put up but he wants strong guidelines, enac- ted to regulate their use. "We. have to get the number of signs under control, " he said.' However, the use of portable signs was sup- ported vigorously by onie local businessman. Mike Ambler of Swish «Maintenance on «Hopkins Street claimed that,,the .use of a por- table sign brought hime $100ooeo in new business over the last year-and-a- half making hlm able to create new jobs.' "'They must be making somebody money or they wouldn't be there, " he said. Ambler also said that the town would be "hard pressed" to find any sign that presents a hazard to the. com- Munity. "Do they really do any harm other than a little'visible harm?" he, asked.' Despite these, arguements,' Ambler, said that he would in- stail 'a permanent signi on lus property if the new bylaw se, required. The committee will receive written com- ments on the new bylaW until Feb. 17 and will hold another public meeting on the matter in April. frýzrm 1984 LL>~ 20 Paffe~M w w w Vol. 14, No. 4 Wednesday, January 25, Freedom bi*d short lived Free dom was short lived for a man who broke away from police custody last Thursday afternoon. According to the Durham Regional Police Force the prisoner 'was being returned to the Whitby Jail from an appearan- ce in county court when he bolted from the pad- dy wagon at about 12:19 p.m. after first slipping off bis handcuffs. The police frankly don't knew how he ac- complished that. A search for the man was conducted and- he was eventualy found hiding in a closet at a residence at 1128 Byron St. S., Whitby. Charged with escaping custody is Ronald John Maguire, 20, of no fixed address. Police said that he was being held to face three charges of rob- bery prior to the in- cident. 20 Paaes- 1984