The motion to erect a lit Season's Greetings sign on the wall of the Murgatroyd building was lost at a council meeting Monday night, with a tied vote, three to three.

The sign - which was slated to cost $7,540 above the $18,997 the Township is going to spend on Christmas decorations - was voted down by Ald. Doug Joyner, Ald. Mary Dinga and Ald. Mike Rehner. Ald. John Glazier was not in attendance.

Ald. Joyner said he was "amazed" at the cost of the sign, not anticipating it to cost over $7,000 in his "wildest dreams."

"I am in favour of decorating it for all seasons," he said, adding that he would prefer a banner decoration lit by spotlights. "Something needs to be done, just not that elaborate."

Ald. Rehner said the Township should consider saving for a changeable LCD screen that could hang in the parkette, which could promote a number of town activities at all times.

"It seems like a crime to tie up all that money in just one thing," he said.

CAO Derrick Thomson said research indicated that LCD signs cost an estimated $100,000 and would require at least three years of fiscal planning. "That would be the ultimate way to go, but it is very expensive," he said.

Mayor Katie Trombetta expressed disappointment that the visible Season's Greetings sign will not be hung this Christmas. "It's sad to see it's not going to happen," she said.

"We've lost a really good opportunity," added Ald. Sue-Ellen Merritt.