Politics & Government

Signs, Signs Everywhere—Many of Them Illegal

Township attorney suggests illegal signs can be legally removed by just about anyone.

There are signs everywhere in Bernards Township — in public spots of the downtown, on memorial greens, on utility poles. Especially since last year's Superstorm Sandy, many have offered to clean up your stumps or provide other clean-ups.

Here's the news: Most of them are illegal.

Township resident Todd Edelstein carried some of the signs to last week's Bernards Township Committee meeting, including one offering to "Sell Your Home" that he said makes the neighborhood look "distressed."

Others in the small pile he placed before the Township Committee offered stump grinding and other services. 

Edelstein said he had plucked the signs from where they were placed on utility poles around the township.

Mayor Carolyn Gaziano told Edelstein that there are only 12 sites around the township where charities and non-profits can legally post signs.

In September, the Township Committee voted to expand the type of signs that such organizations can post, but did not increase the locations. 

At that time, Township Administrator Bruce McArthur said permits should be acquired even for legally permitted signs. 

Township officials said in September, there was no intention of expanding the permitted locations for such signs.

"We occasionally see signs placed on the green in the center of town or in Liberty Corner," said Deputy Mayor John Carpenter. "As a war memorial [at both locations], it's inappropriate," he said in September.

Last week, Township Attorney John Belardo recalled that former Township Engineer Peter Messina used to drive around the township with a pick-up truck and toss the illegally placed signs in the back.

"There's nothing really that prevents anyone from taking them down," Belardo noted.



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