City Council KOs Revere billboard

REVERE – A proposed billboard on Lot 6 at 427 Squire Road was voted down at Monday night?s City Council meeting.The controversial billboard, which would have been the 83rd billboard in the city, was voted down 10-0. Ward 5 councilor John Powers was absent.?We have had extensive meetings about this in the past and I?m not going to add anything more other than I have always thought this was an appropriate site for a billboard,” Attorney Lawrence Simeone said on behalf of Vincent Giachetti of Lynnfield.The billboard would have been in the rear of the Four Points Sheraton Hotel.Revere beautification committee member Ron Champoux disagreed with Simeone.?The city is changing and I don?t think this would benefit the city,” Champoux said.Councilor at large Robert Haas believed the billboard could serve as a distraction to drivers.?It could be a dangerous situation. Already so many accidents happen in that area,” Haas said.Ward 3 councilor Arthur Guinasso agreed.?I think this could cause more accidents where there are already a high number of accidents,” he said. “Like texting while driving, this can greatly affect one?s driving.”There was also concern that there are already too many billboards in the city.?When we issue a license, it is a privilege,” Guinasso said. “This has been a privilege that has been overextended and I don?t think that does our community any good.”Haas pointed out that Revere has the most amount of billboards compared to neighboring communities.Neighbors in the area also shared their disapproval for the billboard.?I have never heard such an outcry from neighbors. I got so many calls and emails from people saying they don?t want this,” Ward 6 councilor Charles Patch said.?I don?t agree with the location of it. I know they are saying it is not in a neighborhood, But, when you go out your door and see it, that is in a neighborhood,” Haas added.Councilor at large Anthony Zambuto voted down the billboard half-heartedly.?I am going to vote this down because the rest of the council is. However, if there ever was a place for a billboard, this would have been it,” Zambuto said. “I think it is time we go after things that truly are a problem.”Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].