May 23, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Mahwah Township’s mayor wants to limit political signs by Frank J. McMahon Mahwah Mayor William Laforet has asked the council to prevent candidates in the November general election from placing political signs on the township’s rights of way due to aesthetic concerns. Laforet pointed out that there will be state, county, and local candidates seeking public office this fall along with candidates for the board of education. While he said he does not object to political signs on private property, he believes they should be prohibited from the public rights of way. The council, however, decided not to take any action on the mayor’s recommendation until a committee that was formed last year to study the issue of political signs brings its recommendation to the council. Township Attorney Andrew Fede agreed to study the existing case law to determine if there would be any constitutional issues with banning or controlling the placement of political signs in the township’s rights of way. He agreed that the proliferation of political signs keeps getting worse, but cautioned the council to proceed carefully. He said he thought it might be possible to control the placement of political signs in the rights of way if an ordinance were written narrowly and remained content neutral. Last year, when three candidates were seeking election as mayor and two candidates were seeking election to an open council seat, a controversy arose over the placement of Laforet’s signs in the center median right of way on Macarthur Boulevard. A sign with a political message that Laforet’s campaign workers placed on the median on Macarthur Boulevard was taken down at the direction of Gary Montroy, the township’s zoning enforcement officer, because he determined that it was placed in the public right of way in violation of the township’s zoning ordinance. That situation led to a council discussion during which some members of the council wanted to continue the longstanding practice of allowing political signs in the township’s rights of way as long as they do not pose a public safety hazard. Montroy recommended the council pass a resolution to allow the political signs in the township’s rights of way. Councilman John Roth, who was the council president at the time, pointed out that the township has not enforced that restriction on political signs for decades, although he said the political sign that was removed from Macarthur Boulevard was removed because it was too big. The council agreed that there was not enough time to adopt a new ordinance to affect the election last year, but engaged in a lengthy discussion about what to do about political signs, including a limit on their size and height. It was pointed out that the current ordinance contains a provision that gives the council the authority to permit certain signs, and the council could allow standard size political signs by resolution. John Conte, the township attorney at the time, cautioned the council that if a resolution were passed to permit signs in the rights of way and an accident occurred, the township could be deemed to have liability. Ultimately, it was agreed that the administration would ask Montroy not to change the policy of not enforcing the prohibition of political signs in the rights of ways during the election season unless they pose a public safety hazard. But Laforet’s sign on the median on Macarthur Boulevard, and one placed in front of the Darlington Schoolhouse at the end of Darlington Avenue by his campaign staff, were removed at Montroy’s direction. Laforet complained about the removal of his signs in a series of e-mails between him and Montroy, claiming they were smaller than the “Welcome to Mahwah” sign on the same median. Laforet accused Montroy of supporting his opponent in the mayoral election by enforcing the sign ordinance on his signs. Montroy said Laforet’s sign on Macarthur Boulevard was taken down because it was in violation of the township’s zoning ordinance by being placed within the public right of way and because the size of the sign obstructed traffic and could have caused an accident. He agreed to liberally enforce the sign ordinance in keeping with past practices and to not remove political signs if they do not endanger anyone. The Mahwah Public Library will launch its adult summer reading club, SummeRead 2012, with a presentation by author Stephanie Cowell on Monday, June 25 at 7 p.m. Cowell will read from her novel “Claude and Camille: A Novel of Claude Monet” and will sign her book. Participants will journey to the Bohemian streets of 1865 Paris and climb five steep flights of dark steps to a small painters’ studio cluttered with art to meet the handsome Claude Monet and his friends. Hear about his passion for painting and the beautiful and mysterious Camille -- the woman who would haunt him all his life. Cowell was born in New York City and fell in love with Cowell to launch adult reading program Mozart, Shakespeare, and historical fiction at an early age. Her first novel, “Nicholas Cooke: Actor Soldier, Physician, Priest,” was followed by “The Physician of London” (winner of the 1996 American Book Award) and “The Players: A Novel of the Young Shakespeare.” In 2004, she wrote “Marrying Mozart,” which has been translated into seven languages and optioned for a movie. Cowell’s program will include a reception with refreshments and a question and answer session. Registration is required and may be completed online at www.Mahwahlibrary.org or in person at the reference desk. The library is located at 100 Ridge Road. Call (201) 529-READ.