[Adopted 2-11-2019 by Ord. No.
18-14]
The Town of Stratford intends to respect the wishes of those
who have lost friends or relatives in tragic events. However, the
Town Council has a responsibility to regulate the use of public sidewalks,
roadways and rights-of-way in such a manner so as to provide safety
for the public. Roadside memorials can be a physical impediment as
well as a source of distraction to motorists and thus pose a danger
to road and sidewalk users. Members of the public who erect roadside
memorials may be putting themselves and others in danger in the process
of doing so. However, roadside memorials can also be a necessary part
of the grieving process and serve as a source of inspiration and a
symbol of honor. The purpose of this article is to balance those interests
to benefit the public at large.
The placement of a roadside memorial shall be allowed along
a public sidewalk, roadway or right of way owned and maintained by
the Town of Stratford for a period not to exceed 90 days under the
following conditions:
A.
The roadside memorial shall not cause unsafe conditions for passing
motorists, pedestrians or for people maintaining or visiting the roadside
memorial, as determined by the Police Department.
B.
The roadside memorial and those visiting and/or maintaining the roadside
memorial shall comply with all other applicable state laws and local
ordinances.
C.
The roadside memorial shall not contain unattended candles, glass
or other sharp or dangerous objects.
D.
The roadside memorial shall have no dimension exceeding three feet
in length, width, height or depth.
E.
The roadside memorial shall leave at least three feet of clear width
for pedestrians on any public sidewalk.
F.
The roadside memorial shall not encroach upon any public roadway.
G.
The roadside memorial shall be removed 90 days after it has been
on display.
The Town may remove the roadside memorial prior to the ninety-day
period for failure to comply with this article or any other applicable
law, or if deemed necessary for construction, maintenance or other
municipal purpose. Prior to such removal the Town shall make reasonable
efforts to contact those responsible for maintaining the roadside
memorial and to notify those parties of the failure to comply. If
the roadside memorial is not removed within 90 days after its erection,
the Town shall remove any remaining items from the roadside memorial
site and shall keep the items for 30 days to allow the person(s) placing
the roadside memorial to retrieve the items. Nothing in this provision
shall prevent the Town from removing a roadside memorial immediately
in response to a threat to public safety. Any items not retrieved
within 30 days may be disposed by the Town.
