The entire Texas Twp. planning commission quit this week after sparring with supervisors over the creation of a new sign ordinance in the Wayne County municipality.
In a stunning move, planning commission members announced they were all resigning and stormed out of the supervisors' meeting Monday night after township lawmakers voted down the sign ordinance.
"I had no idea that was going to happen," Supervisor Richard Southerton said Wednesday. "I was completely surprised."
The commission had recently developed a new law regulating the use of signs in the township. The ordinance updated an old township law and set new rules about the size of signs business owners can put outside their establishments.
The law even addressed trespassing signs.
However, the town's business community was stunned when it learned the new law was up for vote. Many business owners did not know a public hearing was held several weeks ago where they could voice their concerns about it, Mr. Southerton said.
The supervisors decided to reject passing the law to give business owners a chance to weigh in, which may lead to some tweaking of the regulations.
"There's no sense shoving this down everybody's throat," Mr. Southerton said. "They should have a chance to talk. There is no rush to get this ordinance passed."
The planning commission, an advisory board that has no power to pass laws, didn't see it that way.
Chairman Robert Roe and members John Torrick and John Bartron abruptly left Monday's meeting after handing over their resignation letters to the supervisors.
Mr. Roe, Mr. Torrick and Mr. Bartron declined to comment when contacted by phone Wednesday.
In the meantime, the supervisors are mulling over whether they want to appoint new members to the planning board. By law, the board is optional, Mr. Southerton said.
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