FLEMINGTON – It took months, but the borough council found its direction, and, on Oct. 15, approved two ordinances aimed at bringing clarity to the use of signage within the borough.
The ordinances – one to regulate advertising signage and the other to regulate temporary signage – were approved without comment following separate public hearings that no one attended.
The action followed a months-long discussion and review that began in May when it was pointed out that the borough’s rules called for a $50 fee for each temporary sign requested, whether it was for a business, church, civic organization or family.
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The council studied sign ordinances from other New Jersey towns for guidance.
The new rules regulate the size of a temporary sign, and the length of time before and after an event the sign can be displayed, plus the number of signs permitted by event or location.
Sign usage and fees will now be explained as part of the permit application process.
The advertising ordinance regulates advertising signs for certain occasions, such as public events, festivals and business openings.
The temporary sign rules cover the permitted size for temporary signs, and the duration of the time for display. Such events include those held by schools, churches, businesses announcing certain events and contractors performing work at a borough residence, for example.
The new advertising sign ordinance outlines separate rules for sign usage for events that require
a municipal permit, and those events which do not require a permit.
After a spirited debate Sept. 23 about penalties for organizations that do not collect their signs on time, the council settled on a fine for temporary signs of $10 per day, per sign.
The need for a fine, Mayor Marcia Karrow said, was based on a request from borough compliance office Patrick Renaldi, who recently summoned a business for leaving signs out for two years after an event.
Too much of his time was spent collecting old signs, Karrow said.
“He suggested we needed a penalty with teeth,” she said.
The council had waffled on whether to enact a penalty, and then on the amount, and councilman Tony Parker reminded them Sept. 23 that it was their job as a governing body to set rules and create policy, and set aside notions of feeling sorry for the violators.
“We need to be the adults,” he said.
Information about the penalty will be presented when the event applicant files for a permit, she said.
The ordinance to regulate advertising signs says, in part, that a sign fee will be assessed on a permit required to hold a public event in the borough.
Each applicant will get 15 signs, except for street festivals, which will get 40 signs.
The event signs can be posted 14 days prior to the event, and must be removed three days after the event.
For events that do not require a municipal permit, the sign fee is $25 for a non-profit organization, and $50 for a business.
There is no fee for signs displayed exclusively on private property.
Each group can have 10 signs per permit.
Signs advertising a grand opening of a business can be displayed 60 days prior to the event.
For these types of signs, the penalty for a first violation is a license fee and court costs.
Subsequent violations bring a license fee, a $100 fine and court costs.
The temporary sign rules are aimed at events, construction work and certain campaigns.
Signs may not be posted more than two weeks prior to the event, and must be removed no later than three days after the event. Construction signs must be removed 14 days after completion of the work.
Political signs were exempt from the rules related to length of time for display, but not from the size requirements, that is, not larger than 8 feet square.
Temporary banners require a zoning permit and may be displayed for a one-time event for no more than 14 days.
Signs advertising on-going construction or renovation work featuring the name of the contractor may be displayed within the lot lies of the premise under construction, and must be removed 14 days after completion of the work.