Are the town’s political sign rules ‘unconstitutional’?

At issue are regulations governing the content, size, illumination and other parameters of political signs posted on private property.

In December 2009, the state’s chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union sent town officials a letter saying that Mansfield’s regulations governing political signs are unconstitutional.

This has prompted the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission to review those regulations, and the commission invited Town Council members to share their views.

The Town Council on Monday, however, decided to postpone any comment, pending a public hearing the PZC plans to hold in April or May.

The PZC is the governing body that would decide what, if any, changes would be made to the rules.

Under current regulations, political signs can only be posted if they “pertain to the election of candidates to a public office (or) to the passage or defeat of a measure for which a specific voting date has been established.”

The rules prohibit political statements such as, “abortion is murder.”

Also, signs can be posted within 30 days of an election and must be removed within five days of the end of an election.

Proposed regulation changes drafted by the PZC would allow both political statements and election signs to be posted on private property, but prohibit signs on public property.

And while political signs on private property would not be restricted, the town would offer non-binding suggestions so as to preserve the town’s aesthetics without limiting free speech.

In addition, “To help reduce neighborhood impact and to help preserve Mansfield’s scenic character, it is recommended that political signs be limited in size and number, be non-illuminated and be displayed for a limited period of time,” the draft states.

Some town residents, such as Carol Pellegrine, took the opportunity at Monday’s meeting to voice their opinion.

“Political signs on private property should never be regulated by the Town of Mansfield,” she said. “We need to remove it from our regulations.”

Town property, however, shouldn’t be used for political signs because residents have different opinions, she said.

Town buildings and town-owned properties belong to all residents and should not be decorated with signs, she said. “It [a political sign] cannot represent all of us, so it should not,” Pellegrine said.

Another resident, Betty Wassmundt, said the town should revise the political sign policy or remove it completely.

“I feel that a political sign is one of the basic rights I get in this country,” Wassmundt said.

She said she objects to regulations that infringe the freedom of speech. “You’re trying to place limits on my freedom and my right of expression,” Wassmundt said. She added that she should be able to have a 10-foot-by-10-foot illuminated sign on her property if she wants to.

Posted Feb. 23, 2010 [As edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan]

One school – one book – one very big snowstorm

Standing beside giant snowbanks at the corner of Main and State Streets in Hartford after the Blizzard of 1888. Photo © Connecticut Historical Society

During recent years, several schools and cities have undertaken various reading initiatives.

One idea that has been particularly popular is the “One Book, One Read” or “One Book, One City” program, in which an entire city, region or community read the same book, which is made available through school and public libraries.

Unfortunately, these books are often not appropriate for middle school students, says MMS Coordinator of Library and Media Services Linda Robinson.

“I suggested to the MMS staff that we undertake a “One School/One Read” (OSOR) initiative of our own,” she explains in a memo emailed to MMS students’ parents.

“Following careful planning, involvement from the administration, and the support of the Board of Education, Mansfield Middle School successfully conducted such a program during the 2002-2003 school year centered on the book, My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier,” she says.

“We followed this with an even more successful event in 2005/06 using the book, The Breadwinner and again in 2007/08 with Under the Same Sky.”

Something different

This year, the committee involved in the project decided to broaden its horizons and undertake the reading of a nonfiction book, “a genre many students do not select for themselves,” Robinson says.

And so, the committee  searched for a non-fiction book with wide appeal to diverse readers that also offered a local connection.

“As you can imagine, selecting a book for grades 5-8 is complicated at best, but this was even more difficult,” she says.

After considering a selection of books, the OSOR committee enthusiastically recommended the book, Blizzard: the Storm That Changed America, by Jim Murphy.

Blizzard: the Storm That Changed America, by Jim Murphy

This book presents a compelling history, based on personal accounts and newspaper reports, of the massive snowstorm that hit the Northeast in 1888 , and focuses on the events in New England.

“It is a great non-fiction read and has curriculum connections related to weather, technology, and social studies,” Robinson says.

The book has won several awards, including Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, and the New York Public Library named it as one of the 100 Best Children’s Books for Reading and Sharing.

Copies for all students

Copies will be distributed to all students and staff at the Middle School. “We will organize students into small groups with a certified staff member and the entire school will read the book together in school for three weeks,” Robinson says.

Additional copies will also be available in the Mansfield Public Library, as well as in the school library for parents to borrow and read with their children.

“We only ask that you NOT read ahead. Events at school related to this project will take place from March 1 through March 19. Students will receive their books at their first group meeting on March 1 but for the most part, those books will remain in school until the OSOR is complete,” Robinson says.

“We believe that this event encourages a common community experience, provides opportunity for parental interaction, promotes reading, and encourages group discussion of some timely themes,” Robinsons says.  “If you have questions regarding this program, please contact me. We look forward to sharing this book as a community of readers.”

Posted Feb. 23, 2009, Revised March 12, 2010

From the Editor, some related links:

Blizzard of 1888 – “Blizzard Men” Testimony: http://www.vny.cuny.edu/Search/search_res_text.php?id=385

The Children’s Blizzard of 1888:

http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/events/childrensblizzard.htm

Connecticut History online – photos of the Blizzard of 1888 taken in Connecticut:

http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm-cho/results.php?CISOOP1=any&CISOBOX1=back%3A&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOOP2=all&CISOBOX2=blizzard%2C+1888&CISOFIELD2=subjec&CISOROOT=/cho&t=s