The Albany City Council said “not so fast” Wednesday to the idea of electronic message boards at schools and other institutions in residential zones. At their regular meeting Wednesday night, councilors voted unanimously to table — or postpone action on — an ordinance that would allow the signs. Councilor Floyd Collins was not there, and his colleagues wanted to wait till the next meeting on Nov. 7, when he’s expected back.
Albany law does not allow changeable electronic message signs in residential zones. The pending ordinance is the result of a request by the booster club at West Albany High School, which wanted to replace the existing reader board outside the school on Queen Avenue with a larger, electronic one that could be programmed from inside the building.
Councilors expressed various reservations about details of the proposal. One, Jeff Christman, pointed out that on one block of Queen, there are two schools and two or more churches, all of which under the proposal could apply for permits for electronic signs.
