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Selectmen urge cleanup of roadside signs; DPW to collect and hold unclaimed signs for 30 days
Summary
Selectmen said roadside signs placed in rights-of-way violate zoning section 340; DPW supervisor Seth said crews will collect signs as time allows, store them in a bin, and discard unclaimed signs after 30 days while the board considers outreach and possible fines.
Residents told the board that numerous roadside signs—often advertising small businesses—are appearing on telephone poles and rights-of-way and are creating an unsightly condition. A Selectman reported he reviewed section 340 of the town’s zoning regulations and said the signs are not permitted and the town can charge the cost of removal or assess fines if the board chooses.
Seth, a public works supervisor, told the board the DPW crew will pick up signs as crews encounter them while working around town, place collected signs in a marked bin at the shop, and discard signs if they remain unclaimed for 30 days. "We'll put a bin underneath the sander rack, just a wooden crate. And I'm going to mark them with a piece of masking tape, and once they're there for 30 days, we'll discard them," Seth said.
Board members discussed outreach and enforcement options including posting notices on the DPW Facebook page and in the local paper, and suggested coordinating with the police department to contact sign owners where possible. The board noted sandwich-board and private-property signs (for example, residential security signs) should be treated differently than illegal roadside postings. Members asked staff to pursue practical steps to remove hazards and reduce sign clutter while avoiding heavy-handed fines unless necessary.
