AUBURN — City officials are warning candidates and campaigners for issues on November’s ballot that it’s too early for street-side signs on public property.
State rules began allowing campaigners to put signs on public rights of way beginning Sept. 21 — six weeks before the Nov. 2 election. That’s the rule for the city of Lewiston.
But Auburn has its own ordinance regulating campaign signs. According to the city’s rule, those signs are not allowed up until 30 days before the election. That’s Oct. 3.
“We’ve had a dozen or so complaints already so far,” said Eric Cousens, Auburn’s code enforcement officer. “Basically, they say that so-and-so has their signs out. It’s usually a rival campaign, and they argue that it’s only fair to have those signs removed or to let everyone put their signs up.”
Cousens said public works crews simply remove the signs and take them to the shops on Gracelawn Avenue. Campaigns that have had their signs removed can collect them there from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“It’s really only a problem for us for this one week,” Cousens said. “I’ll probably call or send an e-mail to people who have had signs removed to let them know where they can get them back.”
Cousens said Auburn staff would like to change the city rule to match the state requirement.
“That’s something we’ll recommend to the City Council, but there is no way it’s going to happen in time for this election,” he said.
In both cities, campaigns can put signs up in all public rights of way, except for those in front of schools, city buildings, parks or cemeteries. Cousens said the city will remove signs if they are dangerous or blocking intersections.
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- Two campaign signs were erected at the corner of Court Street and Minot Avenue in Auburn before legally allowed. The city’s ordinance prohibits signs being put up until 30 days before an election.
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