HOULTON, Maine — With election season right around the corner, the Houlton Town Council is taking steps to revise its policy on political signage.
At Monday night’s regular meeting, the council approved changes to its sign policy that encompasses all local elections, including RSU 29 budget validation referendums and elections to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
The area where signs may be placed was also revised to include the Tourist Information Center/Rest Area. Other areas, which were unchanged, include Union Square, Market Square, Monument Park, Pierce Park and Riverfront Park.
Political signs may only be placed six weeks prior to an election and must be removed by the candidate or political committee within one week of the election.
Town Manager Butch Asselin said enforcement of this policy would fall under the jurisdiction of the town’s code enforcement officer.
Councilor Sue Tortello stated the town’s current policy is “frequently violated.”
“I know during campaign season, everybody gets very enthusiastic and wants to get out and promote their candidate,” she said. “But according to our existing sign ordinance, you cannot place campaign signs relating to an election, primary or referendum more than six weeks prior to said election. This happens quite frequently when there are out-of-town entities who come to promote their political party.”
Candidates seeking election in November, therefore, may not place political signs on public property before Sept. 30.
Council Chairman Paul Cleary noted that the ordinance only impacts town-owned property. Signs may be placed on a person’s private property whenever they wish.
“The other issue we never seem to enforce is the one-week after,” Cleary said. “You can drive through Houlton in spring and still see political signs that were left over from November. Those are the things we need to enforce.”
The penalty for violating the political sign ordinance is a fine of $100 per day. Questions on the sign ordinance may be directed to the town office at 532-7111.
