Village to crack down on illegal signs
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - Signs - most of them addressing a proposed Wal-Mart in the Town of Bath - have been cropping up on front yards throughout the Village of Bath, and according to Mayor David Wallace they're against the law.

The problem, the mayor said last week, is that the signs violate village zoning regulations that require property owners to secure permits authorizing signage in their yards.

"All of these signs require zoning permits," Wallace said during Monday's village board meeting. He noted the bulk of the signs concern the proposed Wal-Mart, but there are a variety of other signs as well, many urging support for U.S. troops.

"If we're going to deal with this, we going to have deal the same way with all the the signs," Wallace said.

The mayor's remarks came in response to an inquiry from village resident David Walczak regarding the legality of the signs.

Wallace and village streets Supervisor Jeff Muller noted the village has removed signs both in support of and opposed to the Wal-Mart project when they were placed in public right of ways; the municipality, however, has refrained from enforcing the zoning code pertaining to signs on private property.

Wallace said the code allows some signs to be erected without a permit: those advertising political candidacies; real estate, and special events, for example.

The Wal-Mart and "Support the Troops" signs, however, may be in place for months, even years.

"The zoning code didn't anticipate keeping signs in yards for two years," Wallace said. "I think this is turning into an eye sore."

Village Codes Officer Ralph Senese said zoning permits authorizing signs cost $5 each. Senese will be responsible for contacting village residents whose properties contain unauthorized signs and advising them of the requirement.

"We could remove them now," Wallace said, "but I don't want to do that."