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Walter Griffith stands outside the Wilkes-Barre Public Works garage where he picked up his political signs that the city removed Monday.

FRED ADAMS/THE TIMES LEADER

Walter Griffith thought he had until 5 p.m. Monday to remove his political signs from city property.
But, the Wilkes-Barre public works department removed 14 of the Republican council candidate’s signs Monday morning.
The signs were gathered from Gordon Avenue near Barney Farms and on Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, Griffith said. He is running for City Council in District A against Democrat Rick Cronauer.
“I don’t know if my signs were the only ones taken down,” Griffith said. “But I didn’t see any others at the (public works) garage when I went there to get mine back.”
Griffith said he was the only candidate with signs along Gordon Avenue, but wasn’t aware he was in violation of a city ordinance. He said he would have removed the signs if he had known they were not allowed.
The ordinance being enforced was not enforced during the May primary, Griffith said.
Mayor Tom Leighton said there were too many signs being erected and the city decided to remove them from areas where they are not permitted such as on city property. The mayor said he didn’t know if Griffith’s signs were the only ones removed.
Griffith was able to recover the signs. He said they were not damaged and he will be able to place them in other areas.
At Thursday’s council meeting, assistant city attorney William Vinsko announced just before adjournment that the city would enforce the ordinances governing placement of political signs. He said signs must be kept in good condition and are not allowed within 660 feet of any limited-access highway.
Vinsko said all signs must be removed promptly after the general election.