[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of
Raymond 9-10-2001. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to require Board of Selectmen
approval for all signs located within the Town's right-of-way
and/or on Town-owned property and to establish standards for the location
of all approved or exempt signs.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all advertising
devices and signs located in the Town's road rights-of-way and
on property owned by the Town or any of its subdivisions.
With respect to advertising devices and/or signs located in
Town rights-of-way and/or property, no device or sign may be erected
that is inconsistent with this chapter.
All signs to be located on Town property or within Town rights-of-way
shall be permitted by the Board of Selectmen or its designee only.
The only exception to this will be those signs identified as being
exempt under this chapter. All persons, firms or agencies wishing
to locate such signage must fill out the proper application and either
receive approval or denial by the Board of Selectmen.
Those signs approved by the Board of Selectmen shall meet the
following conditions:
A.
No sign may be permitted which has not been approved by the Board
of Selectmen or exempted under this chapter.
B.
No lighting may be permitted to be used in any way connected with
any sign.
C.
No sign may be permitted which is obsolete, not clear and in good
repair or that is not securely affixed to a substantial structure.
D.
Advertising devices shall not be erected or maintained in such a
manner as to obscure or otherwise physically interfere with an official
traffic sign, signal or device or to obstruct or physically interfere
with the driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting
traffic as determined by the Public Works Director.
E.
It shall be unlawful to affix, attach or display any advertisement
upon any object of nature, utility pole, telephone booth, or highway
sign directly in such a manner that the object is utilized as an integral
part of the sign's support as distinguished from being only incidentally
a support to the sign, such as the earth or ground upon which a sign
is affixed.
Signs meeting the following definitions shall be exempt from Board of Selectmen approval but shall require erection in accordance with § 271A-5 of this chapter.
A.
Yard sale signs. All signs advertising yard sales which have been
approved by the Town shall be exempt from Board of Selectmen approval.
B.
Campaign signs. All signs advertising a person's candidacy for
a political government office shall be exempt from Board of Selectmen
approval.
C.
Charitable organizations and benefits. All signs advertising charitable
nonprofit organizations or events sponsored by same shall be exempt
from Board of Selectmen approval.
D.
Government signs. Signs erected by a government body or required
to be erected by a government body.
The following signs are prohibited:
A.
Motion picture and video mechanisms in conjunction with any outdoor
advertising or any advertising statuary used in such a manner as to
permit or allow the images to be visible on or from any public street
or sidewalk.
B.
Signs which produce noise or sounds capable of being heard even though
the sounds produced are not understandable sounds.
C.
Signs which emit visible smoke, vapor, particles or odor.
D.
Signs or other advertising materials as regulated by this chapter
that are erected at the intersection of any street or in any street
right-of-way in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision
or at any location where, by reason of position, shape, or color,
they may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with
any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device or which make use of
the word "stop," "look," "drive-in," "danger," or any other word,
phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner as to interfere with,
mislead, or confuse vehicular traffic.
E.
Signs with any lighting or control mechanisms which cause radio or
television or other communication interruption or interference.
F.
Flags, banners, streamers, balloons, pennants, twirling, A-type,
sandwich-type, sidewalk or curb signs, blank copy signs and unanchored
signs.
G.
Signs with visible moving, revolving, or rotating parts or visible
mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement
achieved by any means. This prohibition shall not be construed to
prohibit electronic message center signs.
H.
Outdoor advertising of any kind or character where any live animal
or human being is used as part of the advertising and is visible from
any public street or public place. This shall not be construed to
include religious displays.
I.
Any sign which exhibits thereon any obscene material.
J.
Any snipe sign.
K.
Any signs attached to trees, utility poles, trailers, and any other
unapproved supporting structure.
L.
Portable signs, except where approved.
M.
Flashing signs and beacons, except for highway or other warning lights
operated or required by a government agency. Also prohibited are signs
with chasing borders and twinkling lamps visible from public or private
rights-of-way. This shall not be construed to prohibit time and temperature
signs or electronic message center signs.
N.
Signs placed upon benches, bus shelters or waste receptacles.
O.
Signs that are in violation of the building code or electrical code
adopted by the Town.
Every approved sign shall be plainly marked with the name of
the person erecting and the corresponding approval number. The absence
of the approval number shall be prima facie evidence that the sign
or advertising device is being operated in violation of this chapter.
Signs determined to be in violation of this chapter shall be
removed by the Public Works Department at the direction of the Town
Manager. Signs so removed shall be deposited in the Town transfer
facility's general debris dumpster. However, if the approximate
reasonable value of the sign or other structure is greater than $300
and the sign bears the name of the owner, the sign owner shall be
notified and the sign shall be removed and stored. Any sign or advertising
device that remains unclaimed for 30 days after the owner notification
shall become the property of the Town and may be disposed of in any
manner deemed appropriate by the Board of Selectmen.
The sign owner may appeal the action of the Public Works Department
by delivering a written request for an administrative hearing to the
Board of Selectmen.
The intent of this chapter is to regulate the posting of all
signs or advertising devices located in the Town's rights-of-way
or on Town-owned property by the Board of Selectmen.
