MIDDLEBURY, Conn. -- A lighted “open” sign is causing a lot of problems for one businessman in Middlebury. The town told him to shut the sign off or he could face fines.

Bicycle Works in Middlebury is set back a bit from Middlebury Road in Middlebury. Shop owner Matt Morris wanted to let customers know that he was open so he got a lighted “open” sign and hung it in his front window.

Morris said, “I didn’t know originally that there were restrictions. I just went out and got a sign and put it up and then I received a letter from the town saying I’m in violation of whatever zoning regulations.”

Middlebury regulations prohibit neon or neon-like signs and Morris was told to take it down or face fines.

Morris said, “So I did. I took the sign down for a month and I noticed that I lost $12,000 in business. So I said, ‘Well, I’m going to be putting the sign back up.’ I need to keep my business going.”

The sign is now hanging a bit further back from the window and Morris is in the process of obtaining a special exception to the zoning regulations, which he sees as common sense.

Morris said, “The economic development committee in town is a growing thing. They want to bring businesses into town and yet they are making it very difficult for the existing businesses to do business in town.”

The rules about the signs are decades old and now Middlebury First Selectman Thomas Gormley, who is pro-business, thinks it is time to change them.

Gormley said, “I did talk to our planner that we have as a consultant. I think we realized that they have to be somewhat modified and updated so maybe this is a good opportunity to do that.”