Wayland City Councilman Rick Mathis told the Wayland Planning Commission Tuesday night that he and his colleagues were sorry if there was any trouble over planners being overlooked recently when a new electronic sign was purchased across from the fire station.

“There is no ill will or animosity on the City Council toward the Planning Commission,” Mathis said. “If any of you have any concerns or issues, don’t hesitate to let us know… Thank you for all you do.”

Mathis’ remarks were prompted by a townbroadcast story last month in which Plan Commission Chairman J.D. Gonzales asked why the process in getting a new electronic sign installed across the fire barn didn’t include any input from the commission.

The new sign will greet visitors on West Superior and promote a number of local activities, including school events. The purchase was approved earlier this spring by the City Council, with input from the Downtown Development Authority, but the Planning Commission was bypassed entirely in the process.

“The DDA and the city deliberated for 16 months and never asked us,” Gonzales said last month, adding, “We feel like we’re the ugly step-sister.”

The chairman said as far as he knows no one on the commission has any objections to the size and appearance of the new sign,

But, as Commissioner Gary Ragan said, “We’d just like to be informed (about what is going on).”

Ragan repeated that statement Tuesday night to Mathis.

City Manager Tim McLean, Mayor Tim Bala and Councilwoman Lisa Banas were present during Gonzales’ remarks, and they tried to assure Planning Commission members there was no deliberate intention of leaving them out of any of the decision making.

PHOTO: This is a sign on the corner of West Superior and Church streets that will be replaced by the new electronic unit.