The village of Fredonia government is eying a new law to make it easier for businesses to use electronic signs.

A public hearing on the proposed law is scheduled before the trustees’ next meeting Monday. It’s set for 5:30 p.m.

Trustee Paul Wandel asked Mayor Michael Ferguson to summarize the intent of the change at a Monday workshop. Ferguson replied: “Some of the restrictions in the past have been for historic areas and these types of things. I don’t mean this as an insult — I’m sure it will be taken that way — some of the hypocrisy of why we weren’t allowing signs in part of the community was for historic districts. And yet, this very building, which is a historic building in its own…has two of the largest electronic signs hanging off the side of it.”

Ferguson added shortly thereafter, “We have a couple of different requests from long standing companies to have signs put in their building, and one put on their lawn. Actually, I’m not sure how much information the companies want talked about right now.”

He later went ahead and talked about them anyway. Ferguson said Pucci’s furniture store on Main Street wants not “a flashy information sign, but a lit information sign to let people know they are there. If you don’t live in Fredonia, you could drive right by and not know it’s there.”

Ferguson said DFT Communications also wants a sign at its Temple Street offices. The company often puts up banners over the street to promote community events and the mayor said the sign would eliminate the need for the banners.

Ferguson commented he doesn’t think anyone has gotten into a vehicular accident because they saw a hamburger on an electronic sign.

“Quite honestly, we are in a position of trying to lift up our local companies and support our local companies,” he said.

The new law would change Chapter 297, Article 16 of the village code, which concerns zoning. The chapter was not available on the village website when the OBSERVER took a look Tuesday.

However, it came out at the workshop that businesses must currently apply for a variance to erect an electronic sign, unless they are in a zoned business district.

Code Enforcement Officer Charles LaBarbera discussed existing electronic signs in the village. He said the signs at Tuscany Market and at the businesses on nearby Route 60 are in business zones. The village has no jurisdiction over Fredonia Central School’s sign, as that is New York State Department of Education territory. Also, LaBarbera said the signs at Fredonia Opera House attached to Village Hall, which Ferguson referred to earlier, were erected without anyone seeking permits.

“So we’re changing the law so they don’t have to get a variance?” Trustee Leeann Lazarony inquired. LaBarbera confirmed that, but said approval of the village planning and zoning boards will still be necessary.

Ferguson concluded the discussion with the following: “I believe we have to do the things in this modern age that help businesses stay put, that help businesses get their messages out there. It’s too easy to go to the big-name stores outside of town. We have people here that have worked very hard to keep their companies and businesses here, and I think it is a service to them, within legal means, to help them. And that’s just my opinion.”