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City Manager Michael Capabianco said City Council campaign signs removed Tuesday were done under his direction.

Close to 20 Citizens for Asbury Park signs were removed Tuesday, said Daniel Harris, who is running with BOE members Kenneth Saunders Jr and Stephen Williams during the local Nov 8 election. They are challenging incumbents Eileen Chapman, Yvonne Clayton and Amy Quinn, who are running on the Asbury Together ticket.

The signs were removed and brought to the Department of Public Works [DPW] storage yard because they were placed in public parks and on public rights of way, a violation of existing code.

But Mayor John Moor said he telephoned Capabianco Tuesday to let him know that the practice is one that has been in existence for at least 30 years.

Moor said during Wednesday night’s City Council meeting that he called Harris to settle the matter.

But Harris said in a telephone conversation later that evening that he was not okay with how things were settled.

“But there is nothing we can do about it,” he said. “I got the signs back and they gave me an apology but I have a hard time believing them. It’s just a gut feeling. They haven’t pulled signs in 30 years. The biggest problem is you are bringing people in from outside of Asbury Park that don’t know our practices. None of them should have done anything without first going to Barbara Van Wagner, [the city’s Zoning and Planning Official since 1991.]

The question was raised by Sunset Avenue resident Pam Lamberton during Wednesday’s public session.

“I just wanted to hear the Council’s take on the situation that occurred earlier this week where a candidate’s election signs were removed from public property,” she said. “There seemed to be a great deal of confusion among and between city employees about whether or not there was an ordinance, whether or not they could be removed, and whether or not they should stay. I’m wondering if anyone is being held accountable for the mistake and if some kind of formal apology will go out.”

Capabianco, who responded, “That was me,” went on to say he received a telephone call from DPW saying there were signs being put in the right of way. Capabianco said he instructed them to remove the signs.

“The city code states that you can’t put anything in the right of way without City Council approval,” he said.

Capabianco said moving forward they will either amend the ordinance to allow for political signs in the right of way or we will do it by resolution in the beginning of every year.

“We need to be consistent in enforcing the regulations,” he said. “The signs are going to be permitted but they can’t be in the tree wells or a tripping hazard, and we will put some standards on it. But, I was the one who authorized it.”

Lamberton said, “Thank you for acknowledging it, maybe you could just apologize.”

At that point Mayor Moor said he was informed of the matter by Harris during a chance meeting outside of City Hall Tuesday.

“He explained what happened and I told him I agreed with him,” Moor said. But when Harris asked the Mayor to tell them to cease pulling the signs, Moor informed Harris that under the new form of government he can not give directive to any city employee.

Moor said on the third attempt to reach Harris he was able to explain the situation, who was understanding.

Moor said no signs will be allowed at Springwood Avenue Park because it was funded by federal monies, thereby making it against federal law. Signs can also be placed on 2 feet away from sidewalks to prevent a tripping hazard.

Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn, a member of the Asbury Together ticket, said she also spoke to Harris regarding the matter.

Quinn said both the city manager and DPW head were not here during previous election and were following the letter of the law.

“In every town that Bill [McClave] or I have ever worked in, we take out the signs if they are in the right of way so this was new to both of us,” Capabianco said. “So we said, Oh no big deal, you’ve been doing it, we’ll just make it right so you have all the [liability] coverage. Usually, quite honestly, they get thrown out but I said don’t throw them out put them in the yard, they can come back and get them.”

But Ridge Avenue resident Denise Richardson said, “It is a big deal and it seems like a big deal because it is just happening now. I understand that these gentlemen have not worked here in prior years, but what was wrong in questioning someone who had been here, and asking about past practices.”

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