The issue of residents posting signs on their property and how neighbors should accommodate them was raised at Monday’s Select Board meeting.
Resident Tom Ryan said he was “trying to get two signs removed from Potter Road.” Ryan said that he deems a “No Kings” and a “Vets for Peace” sign on private property political, larger than what town ordinances prescribe, and signs that he wants removed.
“It’s two four-by-four signs on the corner of Captain Clark and Potter roads,” he said.
Ryan said Building Inspector Bob Garside came to assess the site and “had kind of an attitude, and I don’t have much faith in what he’s got to say.” He also referred to a visit from Police Chief John Frechette, who delivered to him a no-trespass order regarding the property where the signs are located, which stemmed from damage to the signs and an encounter between Ryan and property owner.
“I got two ugly signs across the street from my house,” Ryan said.
On Tuesday, property owner Lorin Baeta, who created the signs, said, “He objects to my signs, and those of our neighbor across the street.” Diagonally from Ryan’s property is a residence with a sign by the road noting it to be a farming community and offering eggs for sale, which Frechette also said Ryan objects to.
Baeta, whose husband in an Army veteran, said that the “No Kings” and “Vets for Peace” were put in place on June 14, the day of numerous “No Kings” rallies across the nation. Subsequently, the signs were turned around, spray-painted and thrown into bushes on different occasions, said Baeta. When she returned to the site on her property to upright the signs, she said that Ryan was verbally abusive. A police report for that date indicates criminal mischief/vandalism at the address of Baeta’s property, and the following day, she met with Frechette on the matter. Frechette then served the no-trespass order to Ryan.
“He refused to take the no-trespass order, but it’s in effect,” said Frechette Wednesday.
Baeta said there were two additional acts of vandalism on the signs on July 4, and that trail cams have been installed on the site.
On Tuesday, Town Administrator Nick Germain said the town’s appropriate authorities are looking into signs. Frechette said, “‘No King’ is not a political sign; it’s ideological, and laws on such signs are more lax. And Baeta’s are on her property.”
In other news, Frechette asked for a change in an ordinance to ban large trucks as through traffic on Gregg Road. Resident John Gizo spoke about trucks having trouble negotiating the road and destroying his rock wall on more than one occasion. The board agreed to accept an amended ordinance on trucks in town that Frechette will craft and submit for the board’s signatures.
The board also accepted a bid for a Skadi 100 receiver bundle, not to exceed $3,250, to help with GIS mapping in town.