Pass Articles 5 and 25

Charitable, non-profit, civic-minded organizations have historically used temporary signs to advertise their special events that fund their good works. That is why I support two of the articles on the Salem, NH March 11 ballot. Articles 5 and 25 aim to undo recent refusals to allow signs on personal and business property and along Town streets.

Some Salem selectmen claim that their refusals are to get rid of the illegal commercial signs littering Rt. 28.  But the number of illegal signs has not been reduced at all by punishing the charitable organizations who have a history of following the law by requesting Selectmen’s approval for sign locations and then picking up the signs immediately after their events.

Article 5 amends current Zoning Ordinance 7:2.4.2 by adding paragraph 11 to verify the right of residents and businesses to post signs on their property promoting non-profit fundraisers.

The old unwritten law allowed for people to put up yard signs promoting special event fundraisers, and a written law prohibited businesses from posting any signs but their own Town-approved business signs.

Apparently a new interpretation by some courts is that property owners cannot put signs up on their own property for non-profit fundraisers because these courts consider those events “commercial.” I think that interpretation should be challenged in court, but meanwhile the faster fix is to approve Article 5, and make it a law that property and business owners have the right to exercise their free speech with the signs.

Article 25 is essentially a non-binding referendum on Municipal Code Chapter 275-17B. A yes vote says that Salem voters want to restore the right to post temporary signs for charitable events [1] in the Town rights of way (along streets) and [2] on the Town properties that take part in those charitable events, such as Salemfest.

For eight years the current Municipal Code Chapter 275-17B was followed by our selectmen to allow street signs along rights-of-way for charities, but this year they refused to approve signs for any non-profits after one organization failed to remove signs after their events. This refusal left countless charitable, non-profit organizations without legal means to use their time-tested way to draw a crowd. Selectmen claim state law grants them sole right to write Municipal Code, so voting YES on Article 25 is not binding. But it will tell the selectmen what we voters think is fair.

So please remember Articles 5 and 25 and use your voting power to preserve our right to free speech.

Betty Gay, Salemfest Organizer