Hernandez claims billboard foul

DINGMANS FERRY — The county commissioners campaign has generated a sign ordinance controversy in Delaware Township, where Democrat, Supervisor Ileana Hernandez is seeking one of the three county seats. Last Thursday, her spokeswoman, Elizabeth Forrest issued a statement accusing incumbent Republicans Harry Forbes and Richard Caridi of installing an oversized billboard, in violation of her township’s zoning. The Forest statement said the township on Oct. 4 informed Forbes and Caridi of a township sign ordinance violation in regard to their campaign advertisement on a billboard at the intersection of US Route 209 and state Route 739. Forest went on to say that in a subsequent conversation with an another unnamed Delaware supervisor, the attorney for Forbes and Caridi, Tom Farley, allegedly accused Supervisor Ileana Hernandez of “attempting to manipulate the outcome of the election” through the enforcement of the zoning ordinance. “Delaware Township doesn’t operate in the high-handed manner the county administration does,” shot back Hernandez, Forrest said that according to the ordinance, political signs can be no larger than 24 square feet in area. The billboard on 739 was already non-conforming. She said that “It has been allowed to remain in that state because it has continually carried advertising primarily for (Cliff Park Inn) for decades.” Owned by the Buchanan family, the billboard has always carried advertising for the Cliff Park Inn and Golf Course, Forrest said.