UPDATE: After Warning, Campaign Sign Size Reduced

Politics got a little bit smaller in this week, or at least political signage did.

One Montville Township Committee candidate's signs were reduced in size after candidate Annabel Pierce said she received notice from the Montville Zoning Officer indicating that the size of her campaign signs was larger than township ordinance allowed for. The township's ordinance states a limitation of an area no more than 32 square feet for a political sign and it must be less than six feet off the ground. Pierce was not sure of the exact size of her previous signs.

Pierce said she had hired a marketing firm to create all of her campaign materials and that the error was theirs, though she did not say the name of the firm.

"The marketing company ordered these signs," she said. "They were not aware of the ordinance."

Pierce said she did not have prior knowledge to the size limitations, herself, and that she had put her trust in the firm she hired, which she said has also worked on other local campaigns. She received a letter from the township land use boards on Saturday morning, she said, and by Sunday at 9 a.m., Pierce said she had volunteers replace the large signs with smaller ones.

"I'm all about respecting the ordinances," she said. "I responded within 24 hours."

However, Township Administrator Victor Canning confirmed for a resident at Tuesday's township committee meeting that Pierce had been notified that her campaign signs were in violation nearly a week before, on May 14.

While Pierce said her new signs are within the limitations outlined by the township, they are still noticeably larger than other campaign signs in Montville.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said the Montville Zoning and Planning Boards sent the notice.

What do you think? Are the new signs still too big? Participate in the poll below and then tell us your thoughts in the comments.

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