Dundas Burthen-Pooley sign fines issued by city
Andrew Hunter is appealing two fines issued by the City of Hamilton for placing signs on city property contrary to its sign bylaw.
As previously reported by Dundas Star News, Hunter started putting up signs recognizing Sophia Burthen-Pooley, an enslaved Black woman in the local area during the early 1800s, on Canada Day weekend this year.
Locations included several entrances to Dundas, Wilson Street in Ancaster, and 2 Hatt St., Dundas' oldest building. When signs were removed, Hunter continued replacing them - estimating about 90 signs have been replaced during the past four and a half months.
Hunter sent a four-page letter to the city's bylaw administration, dated Nov. 7, responding to two Administrative Penalty Notices issued Nov. 3 and 6, ...to appeal these fines and request clarification of the rational(e) for issuing these fines now, as well as the procedure and related communications."
The first ticket was issued for signs on Osler Drive, the second apparently for signs on Cootes Drive.
Each fine is $200 if paid within 15 days, but increases to $260 after 15 days.
It was never my intention to endlessly replace the signs that were being removed, but to progress in dialogue with public responses and to expand meaningful connections in the community," Hunter's letter states. I will not, however, disengage because of pushback from misinformed officials who have not made the effort to respond to open outreach or investigate through community dialogue the actual impact of the signs and the real issues being raised."
He alleges in the letter that destroying or defacing the signs are acts tainted by racism and deserve more attention from the city - whether or not they contravene bylaws.
Hunter's letter states he began the sign intervention in response to persistent and uncritical promotion" of the legacy of Richard and Samuel Hatt and the absurd placement of an official sign honouring an amateur hockey team on the official DUNDAS boundary signs."
The letter states he didn't ask permission because he believes the current official process is flawed and reflects a colonial system determined by whiteness that is unwilling to change."
Hunter's letter states he sees the city and other established institutions as rebranding or adapting traditional tools to distract from real lack of change.
He said he plans to continue the sign project with another phase.
Hunter posted a photo of the first bylaw enforcement ticket on his Instagram page (@andytomhunter) page, along with a statement that included the comment: I've said before that I'm not looking for @cityofhamilton permission as I feel their historic and continuing failure to properly engage the community on signage ... means they have abdicated their responsibilities.
I see this ticket as an invitation to engage through other channels. I'm not looking for support to pay this, or other fines they've threatened to apply. I am looking to continue to build relationships, advocate and follow the lead of BIPOC peoples and organizations."
Hunter sent an eight-page letter, dated Oct. 4, to the mayor's office, the city's culture division and municipal law enforcement, addressing communication he had with a bylaw officer and city comments in a September Dundas Star News story as well as more background on himself and the sign project.
City spokesperson Michele Shantz said bylaw enforcement continues to investigate placement of the signs and can't comment on an ongoing investigation. The sign bylaw also prohibits signs on private property without the owner's permission.
Individuals who have been issued a fine have the option to pay or request a screening with a hearing officer," Shantz said. If payment is not received by the indicated time, the fine will increase."
According to the city's website, administrative penalty enforcement moves bylaw disputes out of court using screening and hearings officers who can modify, cancel or affirm penalties.