My neighbor and I had political signs on our front yards until yesterday when the Town of Topsham decided that they would remove them. The town after being contacted said that they were within the right of way of the town street. Both my neighbor and my wife were home at the time the Public Works truck came by and removed the signs. The first we knew about the issue was the man throwing the signs in the back of the truck and driving away. My sign was close to the line but well within the lawn that I maintain. My neighbor’s sign was on his property (hard to prove since they took the sign). It would seem to me that common courtesy would have suggested talking to the homeowner which would have been appropriate.

It would have been better time spent if they had patched the potholes in the road or mowed the grass that grows up through the sidewalk. Instead it was decided that a good use of tax dollars was to remove signs from what most people would consider their property. At worst they could have pulled the sign attached a copy of the ordinance or explanation and set the sign on our porch.

James Temple
Topsham