Too Many Temporary Signs in Berkeley?

Council President James J. Byrnes has asked the township code enforcer to clamp down on anyone or any business that may be violating Berkeley's sign ordinance.

“We’ve got more [signs] than ever,”  Byrnes said at a recent Township Council meeting.  “Summer weather is coming. We need to stop them.”

Byrnes said he had noticed an increase in temporary signs along Route 9 despite efforts by the Township Council last year to crack down on sign ordinance violations.

But  Councilwoman Judy Noonan said she wants to ensure that established businesses are not affected if they have a temporary sale they would like to advertise. She said a friend in another town was having a one-week sale and was forced to take a sign down before the sale was over.

Township Attorney Lauren Stalger said sign ordinances can vary from town to town, but most of them do allow signs for temporary sales.

Township Clerk Beverly M. Carle said after the meeting the township’s temporary sign ordinance allows a business to erect temporary signs up to six times per year for one week each time they are erected.

Byrnes said he was also concerned with a rise in hot dog vendors along Route 9.

“My feeling is we have restaurants and businesses that stay with us all winter, who pay taxes all year long," Byrnes said. "It’s not fair to them.”

Resident Connie Sherwood challenged Byrnes' viewpoint during the public portion of the meeting.

“It sounds to me like there is an overall feeling to dissuade small business entrepreneurship,” she said.

Byrnes said that if there is a hot dog truck on every block, it will hurt year-round businesses in town.

“Isn’t that the American way?” Sherwood said. “My opinion is we should not try to limit people from making a few bucks. A lot of people are out of work.”

Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said the township has a law on books, and the vendors must follow the letter of the law.

“They can still do it [but] they need to go through the approval process,” said Amato.

The current ordinance calls for a hot dog truck to have full site plan approval to park their truck and sell food within the township, Carle said after the meeting.

The ordinance prohibits them from driving their vehicles around, selling their wares and stopping as needed, like ice cream trucks do. She said the drivers must register with local police as well.

Amato said he would like to see the code enforcer pursue violations of the sign and hot dog truck ordinances.

“We want businesses in town to get the business they deserve, and we want to enforce the law,” the mayor said.