Mother told to remove posters

[Lost in time]

I find this very rude of a person who would complain about a poster and wants it to be removed...what happened if it was his/her child that went missing and she/he was asking for the public help..I just cant believe how people are in this world today

<img src=http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/images/hs/hs1608976_1.jpg>

The mother of missing Hamilton man Billy Mason was stunned when she was ordered to tear down hundreds of reward flyers posted on hydro poles because they violate a city bylaw.

Donna Dixon was told by police yesterday she would have to take the signs down because of the recently passed sign bylaw, which limits where posters can be hung up.

"I'm not asking for much," she said. "I'm asking for me to be allowed to get word out there that my son is missing and there's a reward."

City staff last night indicated to Councillor Sam Merulla that the bylaw would not be enforced on these posters, given the sensitivity around doing so.

A single complaint about the posters around Gage Park began the steps to enforce the bylaw.

Ward 3 Councillor Bernie Morelli said his office received a complaint about posters around Gage Park, but he had no idea what the content of those posters were. He passed the complaint on to staff and from there the order was eventually relayed to police to insist the signs be taken down.

Merulla, who represents the riding Dixon lives in, said she will not have to take down the posters.

"The purpose of the bylaw is to prevent cluttering of advertising," Merulla said.

"This is not advertising, this is a humanitarian effort, therefore it's not in the same category."

Dixon and 20 friends and family blitzed pockets of the city with posters on Good Friday, hoping to get the message out that the reward for information leading to Mason's whereabouts was recently increased to $10,000. She guessed about 1,000 made it onto hydro poles. She was unaware of the bylaw restricting them.

Morelli said if the posters are in good taste and are police-sanctioned, he has no problem with them.

Mason, 28, has been missing since late February 2006.

[email protected]

905-526-4629


Thursday, April 12, 2007

Posters will stay

[Lost in time]

<img src=http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/graphics/breakingnews/hs9477050_1.jpg>

The mother of a missing Hamilton man Billy Mason will not face charges under the city's new sign bylaw.


Donna Dixon was stunned when she was ordered to tear down hundreds of reward flyers posted on hydro poles because they violate a city bylaw.


Police indicated she would have to take the signs down because of the recently passed sign bylaw, which limits where posters can be hung up.


"I'm not asking for much," she said. "I'm asking for me to be allowed to get word out there that my son is missing and there's a reward."


City staff last night indicated to Councillor Sam Merulla that the bylaw would not be enforced on these posters, given the sensitivity around doing so.


A single complaint about the posters around Gage Park began the steps to


enforce the bylaw.


Ward 3 Councillor Bernie Morelli said his office received a complaint about posters around Gage Park, but he had no idea what the content of those posters were. He passed the complaint on to staff and from there the order was eventually relayed to police to insist the signs be taken down.


Merulla, who represents the riding Dixon lives in, said she will not have to take down the posters.


"The purpose of the bylaw is to prevent cluttering of


advertising," Merulla said.


"This is not advertising, this is a humanitarian effort, therefore it's not in the same category."


Dixon and 20 friends and family blitzed pockets of the city with posters on Good Friday, hoping to get the message out that the reward for information leading to Mason's whereabouts was recently increased to $10,000. She guessed about 1,000 made it onto hydro poles. She was unaware of the bylaw restricting them.


Morelli said if the posters are in good taste and are police-sanctioned, he has no problem with them.


Mason, 28, has been missing since late February 2006.

[WillieMcGee51]

Whoever issued that complaint is a D1CK!!!!!