Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • July 18, 2012 Mahwah Ordinance would prohibit all signs in rights of way by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Council has introduced an ordinance that would prohibit the placement of all temporary signs in the township’s rights of way. The ordinance was introduced at the June 21 council meeting and was sent to the planning board for its review to determine if the ordinance is consistent with the township’s master plan. The planning board has until July 26 to make that determination. The council will hold an 8 p.m. public hearing on the ordinance on Aug. 9 at the municipal building on Corporate Drive. At that time, the public will be able to voice their opinions on the subject before the council considers the ordinance for adoption. In the past, the township has not enforced the prohibition of political signs in rights of way during election periods, but the council is concerned that, with the presidential, local, county, state, and board of education elections to be held in this year’s November general election, the number of signs that would be placed on the public rights of way, especially along Macarthur Boulevard, would make the township’s roads unsightly. The new ordinance would amend the township’s current sign ordinance to eliminate the section that previously allowed signs to be placed in public rights of way or on public property with the approval of the township council. If adopted without amendment, the ordinance would eliminate the practice of placing political signs along the median on Macarthur Boulevard during election campaigns, and would prohibit the placement of other signs, such as real estate signs, garage sale signs, and not-forprofit charity event signs, in any rights of way in any part of the township. Temporary signs, political or otherwise, could still be placed on private property as long as the signs are not in the right of way, which is the 10-foot strip of property on either side of the paved roadway of a standard street in the township. The council wanted to address the proliferation of political signs on the roadways at election time, but Mahwah Township Attorney Andrew Fede pointed out that the township cannot legally prohibit political signs in the public rights of way without prohibiting all signs in the rights of way. The council spent considerable time at two meetings discussing the ramifications of amending the sign ordinance to prohibit temporary signs in public rights of way. The council’s consensus at each meeting was to prohibit all signs in the public rights of way. Prior to voting to introduce the ordinance, the various sections of the sign ordinance were reviewed. Councilman John Roth pointed out some ambiguities in the current ordinance and the fact that the current ordinance was not being enforced. Councilman Harry Williams said if there were no prohibition of all temporary signs in the rights of way the township would “look like a circus” in the fall. Mayor William Laforet confirmed that his administration could commit to enforcing the new ordinance that prohibits all signs in the rights of way The ordinance was then introduced on a motion by Williams and seconded by Councilman Samuel Alderisio and four of the six council members present at the meeting voted for its introduction. Councilwoman Lisa DiGiulio and Councilman Roth voted against introducing the ordinance, while Williams, Alderisio, Councilman Roy Larson and Council President John Spiech voted for its introduction. Charles “Chuck” Jandris was not present at the meeting. When voting, Roth said he was in favor of the intent of the ordinance, but was voting against its introduction because he felt the ordinance contained too many ambiguities and was not clear as to how it would be enforced. Councilwoman DiGiulio voted against the introduction, voicing her objection to prohibiting residents and taxpayers from placing temporary signs in the rights of way in order to prohibit political signs from being placed there.