On Nov. 16 at a meeting of the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Commission,  a proposal to allow a Lafayette to install an electronic marquee at the front of the campus was on the agenda, but the commission members did not hear the presentation prepared by Lafayette representatives. The commission also ended in a dead-locked vote, 5-5, which will keep the proposal from going to the full City Council for a vote.

Those attending the event to represent Lafayette were Principal John Shaughnessy, Associate Principal Karen Calcaterra and seniors Drew Cusumano and Becca Leslie. The group was planning to make a presentation outlining why the marquee would be beneficial to the Lafayette community, but they were not able to address the group because of a procedural misunderstanding.

In order to address the commission concerning proposals,  anyone who wants to be heard is required to fill out a speaker card. The P & Z Commission chair then calls on those people to speak.

One local community member who has been very vocal in his opposition to the electronic marquee did fill out a card and spoke. The Image’s attempts to contact him by phone for additional comments went unreturned. At the meeting he said was against the construction of the sign, stating it would “be distracting the least educated of drivers.”

However, the Lafayette contingency had statistics and examples which they believe would refute those concerns in addition to other reasons why Lafayette is in need of an new marquee.

“I was planning on speaking about how our current marquee is in very damaged condition and how much it would cost, which Lafayette does have the money for. But unfortunately, the council decided to place their vote without letting us talk,” Cusumano said.

Shaughnessy had prepared a PowerPoint for the event showcasing pictures of the current marquee and comparing it to the digital marquee that he wished to be built. To his dissatisfaction, the presentation was never shown.

“I wouldn’t say that I feel disrespected, but I feel that we weren’t able to give our side of the situation and to inform them about what good would come from the marquee,” Shaughnessy said.

Shaughnessy shared his disappointment with the members of the commission. He sent the members an email expressing his concerns about not being heard at the meeting. He is especially frustrated because twice during the meeting, Wildwood’s Director of Planning and Parks Joe Vujnich deferred specific questions from the commission about the marquee to the Lafayette group to answer.

Still, they were not allowed to make a formal presentation of all of their material. Shaughnessy had even emailed the presentation to them in advance.

“I have not been informed of why I wasn’t invited up to speak that night. No one has shared much of anything with me. If anything, I would’ve like to have been invited as the head of the school who initiated this whole process. I’m discouraged and disappointed with our city officials and the way they’ve handled this process,” Shaughnessy said.

Vuljnich explained that  Shaughnessy needed a speaker card which is required of all participants who would like to offer comments during a meeting. However, Shaughnessy believes that though he is not a Wildwood resident, as the principal of a major high school in the Wildwood area, he did not need a speaker’s card for the event.

Lafayette is the only Rockwood high school without an electronic marquee. To get the marquee, Shaughnessy has spent two years seeking a variance from the Planning and Zoning Commission to allow the sign which is not currently allowed under Wildwood sign ordinances.

Once the P&Z approves the project, it still has to go before the full City Council for approval.

Vujnich said because of the tie vote at the Nov. 16 meeting, the commission must take one more vote on the matter. That meeting will be held on Dec. 7, where public comment will also be taken.

Shaughnessy, however,  stated he wants to let the project “die down a little bit” because he’s worn out with everything he’s had to do. He said he wants to “refresh his batteries” and re-group his efforts.

The meeting is open to the public and begins at 7:30 p.m. It takes place in the council chambers of the Wildwood Town Center.