Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have asked that the Parks and Recreation Commission revise the design for a scoreboard that would be positioned in right-center field at Glander Field #3, a recently built facility off Mile Hill Road South at Fairfield Hills that will be used by Newtown Babe Ruth Baseball.

Edward Marks, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, sought a P&Z endorsement for the scoreboard's design at a September 7 P&Z session.

The proposed scoreboard would measure four feet tall by eight feet wide. The blue scoreboard would bear white lettering. The internally lit electronic scoreboard would list the scores of the home team and the visiting team. It also would list the inning of play and the number of outs, balls, and strikes.

An illustration that was presented to the P&Z depicted an advertising sign positioned atop the scoreboard. The blue advertising sign with white lettering would bear the message "Newtown Family Dentistry - Drs. Condon & Golisano." That sign would be eight feet wide and 19.5 inches tall.

George Benson, town director of planning, told P&Z members that an advertising message would be positioned there because the scoreboard would be donated by the dental firm. Mr Benson noted that the P&Z has no zoning regulations regarding scoreboards.

P&Z member Corinne Cox asked whether the advertising component of the structure could be made smaller than proposed.

P&Z Chairman Robert Mulholland asked whether the advertising component could be hung from the bottom of the scoreboard instead of being positioned atop it. Also, he suggested that the advertising message be displayed in smaller lettering. Additionally, he suggested that the signage make clear that the proposed scoreboard was "donated by" the dental firm.

"We need to tone down this advertisement," Mr Mulholland said, adding that otherwise, other local firms might raise issues about the placement of such advertising at the baseball field.

Mr Marks said he will discuss the issues raised at the P&Z meeting about the scoreboard/advertising sign with the firm that makes the device and then return to the P&Z for further discussion.