Referendum Will Ask Barnegat Voters About Political Signs

BARNEGAT, NJ — When Barnegat voters head to the polls come November, they will be able to share their thoughts about allowing political signs on public property.

At a recent Township Committee meeting, a referendum was authorized that allowed a question about signs to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. It will ask residents if Barnegat should make a law prohibiting signs being placed on public property.

Mayor Alfonso Cirulli said that the township has been getting complaints about there being too many signs "for years."

"We're just trying to get a feel of what the people in Barnegat could think," Cirulli said.

The referendum is non-binding, so the township is just trying to get an idea of how the residents feel, and may or may not create a law about that after.

"Even if it did pass, it's not going to affect private property," Cirulli said, emphasizing that it is only for public property. He said that at certain corners you see signs "falling all over the place."

Charles Cunliffe, a committee candidate, offered another option. He said that if you're not the party in power, it's hard to get your message out without campaign signs.

Cunliffe suggested that the township pick a few public spots where signs are allowed. "That way you don't have a proliferation of signs all over the place," he said.

"In the spirit of free speech, if you could at least consider maybe certain locations," Cunliffe said. "And then everybody gets one sign, no more."

"Whether it passes or fails, what's in the resolution, it probably is not what would be in an eventual ordinance," Township Attorney Christopher Dasti said.

Dasti said that the purpose of the non-binding referendum was to "test the pulse of the public."