Tom The board is not one person the board is a grouping of different people

Like any and all groups on the face of this earth all groups have good and bad associated with it

For you to state that this group or ANY group does no wrong - well that appears ot be your personal opinion and opinion that is NOT based on fact

Most lots in Saugus are not in code - the code created may or may not be the proper code for this type of land situation - the main reason why most people are brought before the board is the fact that almost any and all properties are out whack of today's code

I believe that many who serve on the board do feel they serve the Town unfortunately I saw many deicsions made PURELY on personal opinion and NOT fact

ESPECIALLY with regard to signage

I would personally challenge you to review the millions of pages and dollars worth of research that the National Highway Department has done with regard to road side signage

And then go back and review any and all deicisons with regard to signage particulalry signage along Route 1

Heck I don't not expect anyone to be a master of commerce, marketing, advertising or the simple science of road side signage but I woudl expect those in the power to review what is acceptable or not to at least be schooled on facts and not just personal opinion - I hear tons of people complain about having a 75 ft cactus in their town - I never here it from the people who were helped by it or the many who didn't even realize their property value increased or tax went down due to it

I for one like other members of the board woudl be against the proliferation of numerous multi dwellings so we agree on some things

The board has clearly shown favoritism in certain cases whether that was the expected outcome or not

I believe if someone were to review all board cases with regard to signage - and listen to all tape recordings of such cases the public would clearly find out that the board basis its opinion on PERSONAL preference and NOT fact in most cases

The board regularly uses the terms such as "In the Towns best interest" or "with regard to public safety" as an excuse

I would be curious as to find out exactly what you truly know about advertising or the pyschological power of road side signage

Please let me know what you can contribute to this debate

I hope you can bring up citable information that just didn't fall out of someones PERSONAL opinion folder

Even minor signage issues such as the deli that had a artist come in to put up a temporary collared soap cartoon to thank its customers for 25 years of business the temporary art-thank you decision the town forced the owner to take down since it went outside of its code

Heck I think it is great we have small minded people who want to create their own Pleasantville on earth here - I mean I know we are not Lexington, Concord or Weston but maybe we could make Route 1 like like one of their tree covered small robin hood type wood signed paths

Or maybe not

Route 1 is a huge economic engine we can support it and once again turn it into a destination that will create MORE tax dollars to off load burden or heck we can just go green and sue the federal government to take it I would be more thna happy to answer any questions you have as to why I may feel the way I do

I would more thna happy to review anything on a case by case basis or as a concept on whole

And again Tom I think the most important thing to remember is that in this great country of ours EVERYONE is allowed a freedom of speech and opinion

And you are correct in ending - in MOST cases the board does an INCREDIBLY GREAT job but since I have a BS and MBA in marketing and have had true real world experience in marketing and advertising including the review of several studies and experiences with REAL WORLD out door advertising vehicles and sign issues I do beg to differ greatly from their shoot from the hip opinions on signage