Erie Pointing Commission Regular Meeting - January 21, 2026

The Erie Pointing Commission held its regular meeting on January 21, 2026, to review and advance a proposed amendment to the municipal sign code, discuss the protocol for recommending reappointments for commission members, and address upcoming administrative schedules. The meeting proceeded with a unanimous adoption of the current agenda and approval of the January 7th minutes.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously adopted the agenda.
• Unanimously approved the meeting minutes from January 7, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up or were present to provide comments.

Discussion Items

• Sign Code Amendment (Resolution P26-02):
  • Staff Presentation: Staff presented an amendment to Section 10.6.12 of the Erie Municipal Code to consolidate sign requirements into a single cohesive table, improving readability by zoning district. Key updates included exempting A-frame sandwich board signs from a 30-day limit and permit requirements (if on private property and not impeding circulation), expanding the frequency of sign copy changes to once every 30 minutes, and removing "ground signs" from the prohibited list. Staff clarified that "ground signs" are defined as freestanding signs on posts or braces, with political signs typically governed by a limit of two per street frontage on private property.
  • Policy Concerns Regarding Political Signs:
    • A significant portion of the discussion focused on the regulation of political signs. Commissioner Sowish expressed concern that the current code's two-sign per frontage limit, if strictly applied to political signage, could be perceived as infringing on First Amendment rights, noting that previous enforcement discussions suggested up to 27 signs might be restricted on a single property during election season.
    • Commissioner Booth questioned whether the previous 2022 update had addressed political signs differently or if they were exempt. Staff confirmed the current proposal does not alter political sign requirements but clarified that political signs often fall under temporary sign regulations, which include strict time limits (e.g., removal 30 days post-election).
    • Opposition to Blanket Exemptions: Several commissioners expressed opposition to exempting political signs entirely from the sign code. Commissioner Burns noted that a blanket exemption could legally allow billboard-sized political signs, raising concerns about visual clutter. Commissioner Booth and others highlighted the legal risk of content-based discrimination, questioning why political signs would be exempt if religious signs were not, arguing that time, place, and manner restrictions are constitutionally safer than content exemptions.
    • Legal Interpretation: The commissioners discussed a former town attorney's guidance suggesting political signs were deemed "small signs" under four square feet to avoid temporary permits, but noted that larger signs would still fall under standard code limits. The consensus was that the commission lacks explicit statutory authority to override the town council's discretion on appointment recommendations and should not unilaterally exempt content without council approval.
  • Procedural Direction: The commission decided to draft a resolution for the February 18th meeting to formally recommend the reappointments of commissioners interested in continuing (specifically Booth and Burns), rather than making a unilateral recommendation tonight. Staff was directed to verify if the town council is willing to accept such a recommendation and to clarify if incumbent commissioners must undergo a full re-interview process, as they were reappointed without a new interview in 2024.
• Reappointment Protocol:
  • Commissioner Booth and Commissioner Burns expressed interest in continuing their service. Commissioner Bahem declined to reapply.
  • The commission noted that prior to 2020, the planning commission never provided recommendations to the town council for appointments; this was solely at the council's discretion. However, due to recent high turnover, commissioners felt a recommendation was valuable for continuity, though they acknowledged the council might still choose to interview all candidates independently.

Key Outcomes

• Vote Passed: Unanimously approved Resolution P26-02, recommending the Town Council adopt the ordinance amending the Erie Municipal Code (Sign Code) and definitions in Chapter 11, Section 3. The item is scheduled for a public hearing at the Town Council meeting on February 10, 2026.
• Future Action Items:
  • Staff is directed to draft a resolution for the February 18th meeting regarding the recommendation to retain commissioners Booth and Burns.
  • Staff to consult with the town council and attorney to confirm the appropriateness of providing a reappointment recommendation and to clarify the interview process for incumbents.
  • The February 18th meeting agenda will include a formal discussion and vote on the reappointment recommendation.
• Meeting Cancellation: The February 4th meeting was officially canceled as no agenda items were ready for discussion.
• Administrative Updates: Commissioners were reminded to complete mandatory IT security training by March 12, 2026.