Sometimes all it takes to solve an issue is getting everyone involved around the same table for a discussion.

That’s exactly how a debate over the brightness level of one Jim Thorpe business’ electronic advertising sign came to an end last week.

After residents who live near Shawn Kresge Electric & AC in the 900 block of North Street visited a Jim Thorpe borough council meeting for the second time on Thursday night to question the zoning legalities of the sign installed earlier this year, Mayor Michael Sofranko took Kresge and the neighbors behind closed doors to broker a peaceful discussion on the issue.

After the sit-down, Kresge told council he felt a resolution had been achieved.

“We’re going to dim the sign down a bit more and reduce some of our outdoor lighting there,” Kresge said. “It’s amazing what happens when you just sit down and talk to someone face-to-face.”

The sign was brought to council’s attention in October, when residents questioned whether a permit allowing the sign had been issued in error.

“It’s so bright that we can’t keep our blinds open,” said Dorinda Getz, who lives across the street. “The light flashes inside our house. I don’t know why we have to have a sign like that in a residential neighborhood.”

Others said the sign negatively impacted the quality of life in that section of town.

“It’s too big, too bright, and too annoying,” Dana Miller, of 901 North St., said in October.

Kresge said within 24 hours of putting the sign up, he had received one phone call on the brightness and, after talking with that individual, the sign’s shine was turned down within a week.

“We turned it down right away, but after that, nobody came to my door and said can we sit down and talk,” Kresge said. “People went on Facebook and bashed my business. It wasn’t right. I’m here to help the community in anyway. We helped put the lights up on the bridge and with the tree lighting in the park. We’d always be willing to talk to someone but nobody came to us.”

Council President Greg Strubinger said after the meeting he was happy the two sides were able to sit down and work something out.

“The mayor really has a knack for bringing people together like that and brokering a sort of understanding between two sides,” Strubinger said. “I’m glad he took them in the back and that it looks like there has been a resolution.”