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Local church, town officials face signage permitting conflict

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January 2, 2023

Holy Family Catholic Church of Greenville, Maine, is facing conflict with local officials over its new sign, which features digital elements, according to a report in the Pisqataquis Observer.

Town officials claim the sign is oversized based on 2017 permit documentation, which also has no provision for the new digital component; however, the church argues that its signage is not disruptive and serves vital community purposes by sharing news and community service offerings.

"They (the church) are still in the process of looking at the sign and seeing what they can do to bring it to compliance," Ronald Sarol, code enforcement officer for Greenville, said in the report.

"We feel like everything we have done has been 100% transparent with our town and our community for the past five years," Joe DiAngelo, co-chairperson of the church building committee, said in the report. "Now we are trying to justify why we feel it is unfair for the town to say you did not build the exact sign that was stapled to your building permit; therefore, your sign permit is not valid."

Representatives of the church are in dialogue with town officials to find a mutually acceptable resolution. The digital component has not yet been activated.