Chappaqua Electronic Message Sign Expected to Operate Soon
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
The electronic sign in downtown Chappaqua that was turned off this summer should soon have a new connection and be back in operation.
The sign, which is operated jointly by the Town of New Castle and the Chappaqua School District and displays messages and information about community events, was turned off after it was found to be malfunctioning. Trees that had grown near the gazebo across the street from the sign on South Greeley Avenue were interfering with the transponder which is connected at that location, said town Comptroller and Deputy Town Administrator Robert Deary.
When new messages were inputted into the system, outdated messages were appearing on the screen, he said.
Late last week, the town and the school district reached an understanding that the district will be responsible for installing a cellular connection on its property somewhere on the grounds at Robert E. Bell Middle School. The sign is on school district property.
“I think they bought the hardware; they just need to work out the timeline for having it installed,” Deary said. “So the town and the school district came to an agreement last week. They’ll switch over and they’ll take responsibility for finding that connection now.”
It is unclear when the sign will be up and running again. The town and school district are trying to get the sign to be operational soon with the end of summer approaching and schools reopening next week. There will also be many more events scheduled in town for the coming weeks as well as the Sept. 30 deadline for paying school taxes, reminders that officials would like to see posted.
The apparent solution to the problem helps the town avoid having to cut down trees near the gazebo, which was an unappealing choice, said Supervisor Victoria Tipp of the dilemma, which was raised during the Aug. 13 Town Board meeting.
This is the second time there has been an extended period of time where the electronic sign, in operation since 2017, has been dark. Near the end of 2022, the town and school district were in a dispute over the content that was being displayed on the message board. That disagreement was resolved in about a month.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
