A bylaw detailing the size, color, location and visibility of house numbers was passed at the Special Town Meeting Monday, April 28. The bylaw ensures that the homes addresses will be clearly visible from the road for safety and convenience purposes.

Member of the Bylaw Review Committee, Julie Moran, presented information for the committee and said the current numbering system is no longer in practice due to changes in the Massachusetts law.

"There are some provisions with our inaccuracies there," Moran said. "House numbering is an example of changes in certain town processes."

Moran said the article comes from the 911 State Law, which has been in place for almost 20 years.

The minimum height of the numbers must be three inches and placed on or as close to the front door of a residents home as possible. The numbers must be visible from the road and be a contrasting color.

In the case of multiple houses or structures located off the road on private ways, numbers must be affixed to a post at the entrance.

If found in violation, the owner of the building will have 30 days to fix the numbers. If the owner fails to correct the violation they will be fined $20 and might be enforced by a non-criminal disposition.

Chair of the Conservation Commission, Sandy Slavin, took the microphone in support of the article and said she found it hard to look at sites without numbers and that it's not just hard for her.

"I feel sorry for those in an emergency trying to find a house when it's not numbered correctly," Slavin said.

With the passing of the bylaw, no new building shall receive a Certificate of Occupancy without the proper numbering identification installed.