By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cobourg council this week voted an exemption to the town’s sign bylaw to allow Church On The Hill to set up six lawn signs on its property (across Elgin Street from Northumberland Mall) to say thank-you to the essential and front-line workers who have given their all over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They purchased the six signs, and then realized that they measured two by three feet – when the maximum size allowed under the bylaw is two feet by 16 inches.
They are simple signs with a blue background and white lettering conveying their thanks in a visible location, Pastor Ewen Butler told council.
“You should make sure the signs would be posted in such a position that they wouldn’t cause any problems with sight lines for traffic,” Councillor Brian Darling warned.
“We would certainly make sure of that,” Pastor Butler said.
Asked how long they would be displayed, the pastor said they would be set up for two weeks.
Councillor Aaron Burchat made the motion to allow the exemption in order that the signs could be displayed on church property for two weeks. Pastor Butler thanked council for their help.
“We were getting our heads together, trying to figure out what to do, and this idea came up,” he said.
“We apologize for not checking in advance what the bylaw said.”
