W. Pottsgrove Tree Lighting on Dec. 5, Sign Snafu

Photos by Evan Brandt

This tree, planted earlier this month, will be lit Dec. 5.

Having decided against holding community day in the fall this year, West Pottsgrove Township officials are hoping to start another tradition.

On Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m., all are invited to a holiday tree lighting at the township building at 980 Grosstown Road.

Free hot chocolate and cookies will be provided and the Pottsgrove High School Chorus will be on hand to sing carols.

The tree is located on Grosstown Road out in front of the building near the sign on which announcements are made.

Speaking of that sign, remember when the township was going to get a new, fancy electronic sign to replace the one that's there now?

Mmmm, maybe not.

Back in April, Malvern-based Catalyst Outdoor proposed to erect an electronic billboard on the property that was formerly the Stanley Flagg Brass plant.

As I reported in April:

West Pottsgrove's billboard ordinance would not have allowed the sign, according to Township Manager Craig Lloyd. With the possibility of a lawsuit looming over the ordinance, the township instead chose to negotiate a settlement with Catalyst.

That settlement essentially means a new programmable sign outside the municipal building on Grosstown Road — free of charge. Lloyd said the township will also be permitted to post emergency alerts and event information on the billboard along Route 422.

Lloyd said the township can also sell advertising space on the billboard and earn additional revenue.

And the groundwork has already been laid -- literally.

The old township sign stands amid signs of a new installation.

A quick look last night indicated the ground has been cleared and wires and a base are ready for the new sign.

But it's not there.

According to the minutes of the Oct. 6 workshop meeting, Township Solicitor Jamie Ottaviano asked to speak to the township commissioners about the matter in closed-door executive session.

Last night, Ottaviano said the man from Catalyst he needs to speak with lives in Florida, wants to meet face-to-face, and arrangements are being made for them to meet.

Catalyst's billboard along Route 422 has been up since April.

Asked after last night's meeting, which ended when the commissioners again went into executive
session, Ottaviano would say only "there is a discrepancy in how both sides interpret the contract."

He refused to say more.

Upshot? In order to avoid having their billboard ordinance challenged in court, the commissioners took a deal with a company that now has its billboard, but they don't have their sign. And lawyers are involved anyway.

And with that, here are the Tweets from the meeting, such as they are, given that it only lasted 17 minutes.

Township Tree Lighting Set for Dec. 5