Nevermind Recounts - Get Rid of Those Signs

With two elections still in the process of determining a winner, it still feels a little bit like election season in Riverhead. However with Nov. 2 over two weeks in the rear view, campaign signs still linger in a few spots around town, adding to that sense.

A drive around town won't show a necessarily high number of signs remaining. But according to town records, it's apparent that some of the signs were never properly filed with the town in the first place, thus skirting the town's ability to properly enforce suitable removal of political signs.

Town code states that any "candidates seeking to display any political sign(s) shall post a bond, check or such other equivalent security with the Building Department Administrator in the amount of $200 per candidate."

Building Department records show the only candidates to file to post political signs for this fall's election cycle were Randy Altschuler, Marc Alessi, and Dan Losquadro. This leaves gubernatorial candidates Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino, incumbent Rep. Tim Bishop, D - Southampton, and a list full of other candidates - not all of whom may have posted signs around town - in violation of the town code simply by posting signs in town.

The $200 deposit is meant to act as an incentive to get campaigns to pick up their own signs following elections. And to fray any cost to the town, should the campaigns choose not to pick them up. According to ex-Supervisor Phil Cardinale, who was in office when the code was changed to its current form in 2009, the town employee responsible for picking up political signs works part-time, with limited time to pick up hundreds of signs around town.

Technically, he said, those signs posted without proper paperwork filed with the town should have been removed immediately.

Regarding those that were filed properly, the code leaves ambiguity regarding specifically when the signs need to be removed. The code states that political signs do not require permits. However, it further states the following: "All such signs shall be removed within two weeks subsequent to the date of election or within 60 days of the issuance of the permit for said signs."

Both Cardinale and Deputy Town Attorney Bob Kozakiewicz agreed that further language must be added at the end of the code, which would state something along the lines of "whichever is sooner." According to the current reading, Randy Altschuler, who posted his deposit with the town on Oct. 4, may have until early December to remove his signs. But it may depend on who's interpreting it.

Building Department records show Alessi and Losquadro both posted their deposits with the town in mid-September.