AMHERST — Homeowners and businesses in Amherst could be subject to warnings and then fines if street numbers are not visibly posted on their dwellings and buildings.
Town Council’s approval on Oct. 3 of a revised street numbering general bylaw, though, with an aim of improving public safety by ensuring first responders can easily identify the structures to which they are heading, came with concern from some councilors that led to a nearly hourlong discussion.
At Large Councilor Ellisha Walker said she worries that time or money might prevent someone from investing in the correct numbers, observing that some residents work multiple jobs, while others are on tight budgets.
“Something that might be very simple for you may not be for someone else,” Walker said.
Though Walker joined eight other councilors in adopting the revised bylaw, which passed by a 9-4 vote, District 3 Councilor Dorothy Pam, District 2 Councilor Pat DeAngelis, District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen and At-Large Councilor Andy Steinberg voted against the measure.
The bylaw states that “building owners shall post the numeric street number of the building on the building and, if necessary to be easily seen from the public way, at an additional location easily visible from the public way, using figures at least 3 inches tall.”
At Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke said there is no difficulty associated with the bylaw, that individual numbers that comply with the rule can be purchased at Home Depot for 80 cents apiece, and can then be stuck onto mailboxes and the side of the homes.
“I think we’re making this much more complicated than it actually is in terms of fretting about how much it costs to a put a 3-inch reflective sticker on a mailbox or a house somewhere,” Hanneke said.
District 5 Councilor Shalini Bahl-Milne said due to her fears about public safety, the bylaw should be in place as soon as possible in case there is an incident. She observed that anyone in violation will just be warned to get in compliance.
“The fact that there’s no immediate fine, it’s not going to have a really negative consequence,” Bahl-Milne said.
Though Pam voted against the revised bylaw, she explained the rationale for its adoption.
“The purpose is safety and the ease of finding the number by first responders, and I think it’s best done by them deciding exactly the size, the color, the reflectivity and the placement,” Pam said.
Steinberg said the changes were a fairly significant request being made of all property owners in town, and it left many questions unanswered about how all buildings will comply. He suggested the bylaw be referred for additional study, and to get more input from residents That referral was defeated.
Before voting against the changes, Schoen said she hears from constituents that Amherst overregulates. She said she would be heading to a home improvement store to purchase numbers for vocal neighbors, and to halt any anger over the decision.
“One of them has literally said he will do everything he can to move out of Amherst because of all the rules, that every time he turns around there is another rule,” Schoen said.