ELECTION SIGNS

Preamble

The Council for the Township of Conmee has determined that there should be a policy regulating the erection of election signs in the Township and on municipal property. This policy will enable the Township to inform the relevant parties of the procedure, and allow the Township to remove signs that do not conform.

Scope

This policy applies to all registered candidates for Municipal Elections.

Definitions

Election Sign means: Any sign advertising or promoting a candidate for municipal council.

Municipal or Public Property means: Property owned by the Corporation of the Township of Conmee.

Candidate means: Candidate shall have the same meaning as in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and shall be deemed to include a person seeking to influence another person to vote for or against any question or by-law submitted to the electors.

Policy

No person shall erect, attach, place or display an Election Sign except as permitted by this by-law.

Election signs shall not be attached to trees, have flashing or rotating parts, be illuminated, or simulate any traffic control device.

No person shall deface or wilfully cause damage to a lawfully erected election sign.

No person shall at any time on voting day, including those days when advance voting is held:

a) place an election sign, or cause an election sign to be placed on any premises used as a polling station; and
b) place or cause to be placed an election sign, poster or placard in or on a vehicle that is parked on any premises used as a polling place for elections if the sign, poster or placard is visible.

No person shall display the Township logo or crest in whole or in part on any election sign.

Mobile signs are not permitted.

No person shall erect an election sign where it obstructs or interferes with a door or fire escape of any building.

Election signs shall be erected on private property only with the knowledge and consent of the property owner, including absentee owners.

Election Signs Placed on Public Property

No person shall at any time place an election sign or cause an election sign to be placed on any land or building owned or occupied by the Township of Conmee.

No person shall at any time place an election sign or cause an election sign to be placed on the public road right-of-way adjacent to any property or building owned or occupied by the Township of Conmee.

For the purposes of this section, that part of Sovereign Road from the intersection of Holland Road, north to the gate of the Conmee Public Landfill shall be exempt from the prohibition regarding the erection of election signs.

Election signs may be erected or displayed on municipal public highway, including municipal road allowance if signs are not located on a bridge, or placed in such a position as to create an unsafe obstruction or visual impairment for pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

Nothing in this policy prohibits any utilities that use the public road right-of-way from prohibiting, controlling or removing election signs that have been attached to utility equipment, including but not limited to, telephone or hydro poles or locator signs.

Timing

Election signs shall not be displayed or erected prior to thirty (30) days before a municipal election.

All election signs must be removed no later than ten (10) days after election day. For the purpose of this section, the official candidate shall be responsible for removal of the signs within the prescribed time frame, regardless of who erected the sign.

Removal of Unlawful Election Signs

If a sign is erected or displayed in contravention of this policy, the sign shall be removed by Township officials. Candidates shall be notified of the removal as soon as possible and shall have 10 working days to pick up the sign. After 10 working days, the sign will be destroyed by Township officials.

Liability for Damages

The provisions of this policy shall not be construed as relieving or limiting the responsibility or liability of any person erecting or owning a sign, for personal injury or property damage resulting from the placing of such a sign or resulting from the negligence or wilful acts of such person, or his or her agents or employees, in the construction, maintenance, erection, repair or removal of such signs.