Are billboards breaking city By-laws ?

City officials admit that the election rules around billboards need to be clarified.

A local media outlet recently reported that, technically, the lit signs are breaking the By-law.

The city’s building department agrees, but says the signs do not break the intent of rules, so it will suggest clarifying the By-law.

“People read the by-laws and people try find every little thing and make an issue of it,” said Bill Jean, Chief Building Official with the City of Windsor.

He said the intent of the By-law is that signs on private property should not distort or distract the vision of drivers by being illuminated.

“It’s meant to deal with signs that are hammered into the ground. But the By-law does not spell that out, so there could be confusion with other types of lit signs,” said Jean.

Jean said his department will not take legal action against candidates using billboards and will not ask for them to be removed.

Diana Mills, a Windsor resident who attended a press conference for John Millson Oct. 24 at City Hall, said she approves of candidates using lit billboards to campaign

“I do not think there is anything wrong with that, I think that is fine,” said Mills.

There is billboards through-out the city showcasing councilors and mayoral candidates. This tactic is nothing new for politics in Windsor.