Letter to the editor: respect political signs on town-owned land

To the editor:

Political election and campaign time is approaching again, with the attendant practice of candidate signage. Judging by experiences in the past few elections, there seems to be a lack of understanding or appreciation regarding an interpretation of the Sign By-Law issued by the town of Lincoln in August 2012.

In the words of town officials, this compromise was developed to recognize the historical practice of town residents in the apparent interest of restraint, fair play and courtesy, and to be consistent with statewide legal precedent protecting free speech. The town published a notice at that time defining these interpretations, but apparently many residents did not see that notice since there is widespread misunderstanding. Following are the key points:

• Unattended political signs can be placed by right on town-owned land at the designated intersections in Section 16.2 (d) of the Zoning Bylaw. These five locations are at the intersections of Sandy Pond Road and Lincoln Road; Ballfield Road and Lincoln Road; Lincoln Road and South Great Road; Bedford Road and Morningside Lane; and Codman Road and Concord Road.
• Political signs can be held by right (without a permit) on town-owned land as long as they don’t impact safety or constitute a hazard for either motorists or pedestrians.
• One political sign can be placed by right on private land, not to exceed 8 square feet and for no more than 180 days prior to the election.
• Enforcement of these provisions is the responsibility of the Building Commissioner.

It should also be noted that such political signs are the private property of the relevant candidate’s campaign and as such, vandalism and/or unauthorized removal is illegal.

I hope this will clarify misunderstandings and become more widely appreciated by town residents and campaign supporters alike.

Sincerely,

Gary Davis (co-chair, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee)
Indian Camp Lane

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