In 1972 the United States Supreme Court announced that “above all else, the First Amendment means that the government has no power to restrict expression because of its message, its ideas, its subject matter, or its content.”
Report by Paula Antolini
September 11, 2015 3:34PM EDT
OPINION: Signs, Signs Everywhere, But Who is Enforcing the Bethel Town Signage Codes? Laws Should Not Be ‘Selectively Enforced.’
Bethel Advocate recently received numerous photos from readers (see below) of illegally placed lawn and tag sale signs of all kinds, placed throughout Bethel. Residents are upset that “signage blight” is happening once again. I say “again” because most signs were removed by the town a few months ago when it was decided to strictly and suddenly enforce town signage laws.
Resident complaints about signs making the town look blighted are not new. A few months ago the town decided to enforce the Town of Bethel signage laws after not enforcing them for years. This happened at the time when “Stop the Crematorium” and “No Cell Tower” signs were commonly seen around town along with the usual signs advertising town events, tag sales etc.
The Town of Bethel took a stand. Bethel Town Planner/Land Use Director Steve Palmer directed municipal workers to immediately remove the signs and said he informed the sign owners that the signs would be held at the Bethel Transfer Station for two weeks if they chose to reclaim them. The signs were disposed of in less than two days all at the expense of the sign owners.
Now more signs are back, so Bethel Advocate made an attempt to get some answers from the town officials about signage laws.
On August 31, 2015, Bethel Advocate contacted Steve Palmer and asked if all the signs placed roadside and on poles around town presently are exempt or illegal. His first e-mail answer on September 2, 2015 stated “The signs you mention [charity signs, paint company, and other businesses and orgs.] are not legal and will be removed by our inspector as he sees them when he is performing inspections in the next couple of days.”
On September 2, 2015 Palmer was asked, “When the last round of ‘removed signs’ occurred this year, it was done by the Bethel maintenance workers the same day as the complaints and the same day as sign owners were notified. Why isn’t it being done the same way now? Was a time limit given for them to remove signs themselves, or immediately? Such as, if signs are not removed the same day as the notification from you (IF you did that), then the signs would be taken by maintenance etc., as you did with the previous signs?”
Palmer replied on September 3, 2015, “Because we were short on staff and very busy that day as I informed you” and went on to say “Unfortunately we could only leave messages to call us back. However, we would likely give them a day to remove such signs.”
On September 3, 2015, Palmer also said, “Signs would be taken down by our office and or the public works department if their personnel were available.”
A week has now passed and most signs still remain and it appears nothing more is being done. Although some of the signs have been removed, like those directly in the center of town in front of the Municipal building or on the side of the library, many signs still remain including those at the entrance and inside of the school park and numerous other areas.
Why are these signs allowed to remain? Selective enforcement comes to mind. Sign content-related discrimination is also unacceptable and in violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, if the town treats some signs differently than others.
In 1972 the United States Supreme Court announced that “above all else, the First Amendment means that the government has no power to restrict expression because of its message, its ideas, its subject matter, or its content.”
According to a June 18, 2015 article in the New York Times, “Content-based laws — those that target speech based on its communicative content — are presumptively unconstitutional and may be justified only if the government proves that they are narrowly tailored to serve compelling state interests.”
Bethel Advocate is not opposed to signs (especially charity-related signs), we feel it simply shows a community is alive with activity. As long as all signs are treated equally by town officials, and the sign owner agrees to post them conforming to acceptable community standards, and removes the signs quickly when the event is over, then there is no problem. However, we do question the selective enforcement of signage codes and regulations in Bethel, and content-related discrimination.
A law is a law and should be enforced equally for all.
What do you think?
See photos below and click on photos to view larger.
NOTE: Almost 50 signs are shown in photos below, but these are only some of the signs placed in Bethel, not all, there are many more. (Some signs may have been removed by the time of this post.) If you have any questions about the legality of the signs call Enforcement Officer Brendan Keatley (203) 794-8578, or Director/Town Planner Steve Palmer (203) 794-8578 or email landuse@bethel-ct.gov
Tag sale sign dated Aug. 29-30, still posted, on Rt. 302.
Bethel Arts sign.
Sal’s Pizza sign in front of Dolan Plaza on Greenwood.
Yard sale sign dated Aug. 22, on Chestnut and Greenwood Ave..
DAWS sign on Greenwood Ave. near Chestnut.
Daws sign.
Irish event sign near Midway on Rt. 302.
Tag sale sign mounted to road sign, dated Sept. 5-6.
Irish event sign, Hoyt’s Hill and Rt. 58.
Bike event sign, on Rt. 58.
DAWS and Irish event sign on Plumtrees.
Tag sale sign dated Sept. 5-6 and Child Care Company sign on Rt. 302.
Tag sale sign on the back of a road sign, dated Sept. 5-6, on Rt. 302.
Irish event sign near bus stop.
Multiple signs at entrance to school, Plumtrees.
DAWS sign at entrance to school, Plumtrees.
Signs at entrance to schools on Judd Ave.
DAWS sign INSIDE school park, off of Judd, near Berry school sign.
DAWS sign INSIDE school park, near track.
DAWS sign INSIDE school park near Rockwell.
Scotty Fund sign near school entrance.
DAWS sign at entrance to schools off Judd Ave.
DAWS sign on proposed police station property on Judd Ave. near schools entrance.
Craft Fair sign on Municipal lawn, School Street.
Scotty Fund signs in front of Municipal building on School Street.
DAWS sign across from Bethel Post Office on Library Place.
Book Sale sign behind Bethel Public Library on School Street.
Bethel Arts sign.
Craft Fair sign on Municipal lawn on School Street.
Scotty Fund sign near gazebo, Municipal lawn, on School Street.
Scotty Fund sign near gazebo, Municipal lawn, on School Street.
Tom Saint Paint Company sign near stop sign, Rt. 302.
DAWS sign.
Scotty Fund sign on proposed police station property on Judd Ave.
Bethel Arts sign on Rt. 302.
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