An outdoor advertising company has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming the City of Girard, its Mayor, and a zoning official are blocking efforts to install billboards in the city.

According to a complaint filed by Huntington Outdoor and Summit Locations in U.S. District Court, Mayor Joseph Melfi told a company official that a billboard had not been built in Girard in many years and that a billboard would not be seen in “a good light” by residents. The complaint also alleges that Melfi and Zoning Coordinator Nancy Thomas have failed to give the company application forms for a billboard.

Speaking to 21 News, Mayor Melfi said that the city council passed an ordinance years ago prohibiting billboards in some parts of Girard.  According to Melfi, one of those areas is along Route 422, where Melfi says the company wants to erect an outdoor advertisement.

“Nobody wants to see a billboard in the middle of Downtown,” said Melfi, who had not seen the lawsuit when contacted by 21 News, adding "this isn't about free speech, it's about making money."

The company, which says it has leases at four locations for billboards in Girard, claims the city’s refusal is illegal, violating free speech and other rights.

The company claims that Girard’s billboard ordinance does not require that requested permits need action by a zoning board or the city council, as suggested by Melfi.

"I've handed it over to the law director, that's where it goes first for his review, and we'll go from there," Melfi said. "This is just another challenge that city hall has to waste its time and money to try to make your community look nice."