Minot to seek restriction on ‘political messages’

MINOT — When Minot voters go to town meeting this March, they will have numerous ordinance updates to consider.  Among those will be one currently being drafted by selectmen, which will regulate the use of “political signs” along town roads.

“If they [signs] are out of the right-of-way, than we have no control,” clarified Board Chairman Dean Campbell.

The Political Message Sign Ordinance will stipulate that campaign signs cannot be posted until six weeks before an election.  Signs will be required to have the name and address of the person, or organization, posting the message clearly displayed on the back of each sign.  Fines will be assessed for any placards that have not been taken down one week after the election.

According to Town Administrator Gregory E. Gill, the ordinance would not pertain to Presidential races as those types of signs are already covered under state law.  He also stated that the ordinance is based on similar language in those regulations.  Minot has the right under Title 23 M.R.S.A. to create such an ordinance, said Gill, because it has a population of under 15,000.

“What comes under political message?” asked local resident Dennis Decoster, who was present at the December 20 selectmen’s meeting while the draft ordinance was being debated.

“Any sign in the right of way pertaining to any election, whether it’s town meeting, November ballot, whatever, if it has any kind of political message to it.” said Campbell.

“These people go out and put up these signs everywhere,” said Selectman Eda Tripp.  “Some of them pick them up, some of them don’t”  

“To me it is an absolute mess,” said Campbell.  “They leave the signs out there.  Some folks are really good about it.  The day after the election they go out and pick their signs up.  But it’s usually the guy that lost [that creates a problem.]  Their signs stay out there and become trash.”

According to Campbell, signage would have to be “pertaining to a vote that’s happening,” in order for the ordinance to be applicable.   The proposed ordinance, in its current form, does not make allowances for signs not directly tied to a specific candidate, or ballot initiative. 

“I don’t know,” said Campbell, when asked what might happen if, for example, a gaggle of pro-choice signs appeared along Minot roadways.

For Campbell, the more pressing question was setting the amount violators should pay in fines.

“What I’m thinking, if you do a $50 fine per sign, per day, we could almost guarantee that they’d all get cleaned up in a couple of days,” he said.  “We’ve got to do it, we’ve got to put some teeth into it.  Otherwise, nobody’s going to pay any attention to it.”

Gill suggested making use of Minot’s citation ordinance.  Adopted by the town in 2002, this ordinance already sets out similar fines schedules for quantity and severity of infractions, as well as timeframes for corrective measures.

“You can attach it to anything you want to attach it to,” Gill said.  “It’s attached to about five ordinance right now.”

Selectman did not establish a specific rate before moving on to other subjects.  Still, they did resolve that any fine set would be “per sign,” meaning that if a group left out 10 signs, they would be cited, and fined, separately for each individual violation.

“Who is going to enforce this?” asked Decoster.

When informed that this responsibility would fall to the town’s Code Enforcement Officer, Ken Pratt, Decoster was ready with a quick retort.

“I hope he does a better job than with junkyards.”

It was briefly debated whether off-premise real estate signs and yard sale signs should be included into the proposal that will go before voters.

“We might [also] need a sign ordinance,” predicted Campbell.

Selectmen requested that Gill pass those specific scenarios, along with copies of sign ordinances from Mechanic Fall and Turner, to the planning board.

Decoster also expressed concern over how political activists would know of the new requirements when the next election cycle comes around.

“How are you going to notify people?” he asked

“Send ‘em a bill,” replied Campbell. 

Then, with a chuckle, clearly joking, he added, “Hey, we’re just looking for a way to lower our taxes.”