By Ben Orcutt -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — While a majority of Town Council members have no problem with a code of conduct sign being made by a fellow panel member, the council's approach to such matters may change.

In an effort to help encourage better behavior at the gazebo area, the council directed Town Manager J. Michael Graham during a Monday work session to have the sign erected.

The sign was installed on Friday on the Chester Street side of the commons area, which also is bounded by Main Street.

The sign was made by Councilman N. Shae Parker, who owns Hanna Sign Co. Parker was appointed to the panel Aug. 11 to complete the remaining 23 months on Eugene R. Tewalt's council term following Tewalt's election as mayor in May.

Graham confirmed on Friday that Parker made the code of conduct sign at the town manager's request. Graham said any contract above $2,000 has to go out on bid, and any contract $25,000 and above has to be approved by the council.

Graham said that because the town and county had already contracted with Parker for a series of wayfinding signs prior to his becoming a council member, and because the town wanted the code of conduct sign to be similar, it was easier to have Parker do the work. Graham said the town had a credit left on the contract with Parker, and in effect there was no extra charge for the code of conduct sign.

Parker agreed with Graham that the town had a credit remaining on the existing contract. He said the cost for that type of sign is $45.

"I was assuming the town sign department was going to make them," Parker said. "Until he [Graham] came to me, I had no prior knowledge."

Parker said he will make every effort to avoid any conflict with his position as a councilman.

"If it's going to be a conflict of interest, I am going to recuse myself of any instances like that," he said.

Tewalt also said it was his understanding the town had a credit with Parker on its existing contract, and that is why Parker was asked to make the sign.

But, Tewalt added, in the future, something of that nature should be put out for bid.

"If it wasn't free, it should be put out on bid," Tewalt said. "I want everything in Front Royal to be on the up and up. If it goes out to a bid and he [Parker] happens to be the low bid, I don't have a problem."

Vice Mayor Bret W. Hrbek agreed.

"Shae should bid for a job just like everyone else," Hrbek said. "I don't see an issue with it, especially on this particular thing. Mike's got pretty good judgment. If thinks he needs to come to the council he will, and if he doesn't, he won't."

Councilmen Chris W. Holloway and Carson C. Lauder Jr. spoke in a similar fashion.

"We wanted to get the signs up as soon as possible," Holloway said.

"If we did want to take bids on it, the time didn't allow. I don't have any problem with Shae doing the code of conduct [sign]. I think in the future if we start [erecting more] signs, I think we probably should take bids on it."

Lauder agreed that perhaps in the future, Graham may want to put such work out for bid.

"It wouldn't hurt to check," Lauder said.

But, Lauder added, "He [Parker] was just put on council and I see no problem with this particular sign. If someone else would have done it, it still would have been a sign. It's not involving that much money, and I don't think it's a problem with this particular sign. It's not like we're going to do signs all over town."

* Contact Ben Orcutt at borcutt@nvdaily.com