Town of Southold

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Taking on his latest quality-of-life issue, Southold Supervisor Scott Russell has pledged to crack down on illegal temporary signs within town borders.

At last week's work session and in a press release sent last Wednesday, the supervisor called for stiffer fines and penalties "to rid the town of violators."

"I want to provide a level playing field," he said by phone. "I have an obligation to other businesses. And when one person has the gumption to break the law, to break Town Code, there will be consequences."

Temporary signs, such as those used for real estate and political campaigns, do not require permits. Recently, however, Mr. Russell said he's noticed, and received complaints about, signs for national chains and signs advertising home auctions.

"I get dozens and dozens of complaints," said Southold code enforcement officer Ed Forrester. "The problem is the code, and I've read it 100 times, does not allow me to issue a ticket."

Amended in 1994, the 18-page section 280 of Southold Town Code comprehensively defines a variety of signs that are permitted and not permitted in town. "I'm guessing a whole lot of thought went into it," said Mr. Forrester, "but at that time they were dealing with large structures. Most of the complaints are about little cardboard or sheet metal signs. This code doesn't take that into account."

What Mr. Forrester can do about an illegal sign is send a certified letter asking the property owner to remove the sign within 30 days. If it is not removed, the town will do so and assess the cost of removal to the property owner. Problems arise when an illegal sign is posted in a place like the median of the North Road. "That's a county road," said Mr. Forrester. "Am I supposed to send a letter to Steve Levy?"

Amendments to the code should allow him to remove a sign immediately and to issue a ticket to the person who installed it, which may not be the landowner.