Residents Urged To Give Billboard Testimony Tonight

Residents from two townships, including Haverford and Lower Merion, are being asked to give testimony about their feelings of having billboards being placed throughout the area.

From at the auditorium, residents are allowed to testify their concerns about having billboards being placed in the various townships, 1st Ward Commissioner Steve D’Emilio told 17 residents at Wednesday night’s 1st Ward meeting at the Manoa Fire Co.

D’Emilio voiced his opinion on the issue.

“Having a billboard will not enhance the community but will bring it down,” he said.

Bartkowski Investment Group (BIG) is fighting to have five 672-square-foot billboards placed in Haverford Township—two of the billboards would be located along Lancaster Avenue in Haverford Township, but will overlook Lower Merion Township, and three signs along West Chester Pike in Haverford Township.

BIG is facing legal actions in Lower Merion Township as well, along with other suburban communities where BIG has interests in several billboard concerns. 

Marc Kaplin, the attorney representing BIG, will be attending the meeting Thursday and “has the right” to cross-examine residents who testify, Sandi Donato, a member of No Billboards coalition, told the Haverford-Havertown Patch after the meeting.

“Don’t be intimidated by Marc Kaplin,” was Donato’s message to residents who are unsure of giving testimony tonight.

Kaplin was not at the meeting.