The Law Department, in response to a request from Lamar Central Outdoor that sought immediate issuance of the special permits, said the 90-day deadline never passed, because a February hearing "was kept open and was continued ..."
SPRINGFIELD — The Law Department on Thursday notified Lamar Central Outdoor, of Windsor, Conn., that the company's plans for two digital billboards along Interstate 91 did not receive automatic approval nearly a week ago, as was stated by City Council President James J. Ferrera III.
Ferrera announced last Friday that the council had failed to act on Lamar’s request for special permits for the billboards within a 90-day deadline since a public hearing on Feb. 25, and thus the permits were approved automatically without conditions. Ferrera, in a prepared release, said it was his belief that the deadline was missed and the permits granted under the provisions of state law.
The digital billboards are proposed at 6 Liberty St. and 603 East Columbus Ave., and would replace two traditional billboards at those sites, if approved.
The Law Department, in response to a request from Lamar on Tuesday that sought immediate issuance of the special permits, said the 90-day deadline never passed, because the February hearing “was kept open and was continued, according to the official records (minutes of the meeting) kept by (City Clerk Wayman) Lee."
Stephen E. Hebert, vice-president and general manager of Lamar, filed a certified letter with Lee, asking for issuance of the special permits immediately. Hebert, in his request, said the 90-day deadline had passed, “which automatically triggers passage of the permits.”
Lee said the special permit requests can be brought forward for a vote by the City Council at a future meeting, and will need a two-thirds majority vote of approval at that time in order to pass. If approved, there is a 20-day appeal period.
Lamar officials were not immediately available for comment on the Law Department’s letter.
Ferrera, who has stated his support for the billboards, announced last Friday that he was canceling a Tuesday council vote on the special permits because it was past the deadline.
“I will not risk the potential for a multi-million dollar lawsuit by this applicant nor any prior or future applicant,” Ferrera said in a prepared release.
Ferrera at the time said that “obviously, it fell through the cracks.” He said, “I guess you could blame me for not paying attention” to the time limits for a vote, but he said that any councilor could have brought it to his attention earlier.
Ferrera was not immediately available for comment Thursday regarding if he will schedule a vote on the special permits.
The map below shows the approximate locations of where the two digital billboards would be placed:
View Locations of proposed digital billboards in Springfield in a larger map