Since the board is slow, here's a bedtime story.......

[Mark Padgett]

Yesterday, I was walking around the neighborhood when I noticed two realtors placing a “sandwich board” sign in our common area. I walked up to them and politely (yes, I can be that sometimes when I take my meds) informed them that our homeowner’s association didn’t allow signage on our private property. They said they had permission. I told them that was impossible, since I am the association President and I know our board has never given permission for this (this is true).

They stared at me and then moved the sign onto the public sidewalk. I told them it couldn’t be there, either, since that was public right-of-way and it was against city code. They told me it wasn’t, so I pulled out my volunteer city I.D. card and showed them that I am the Planning Commission President and I know the sign code. Not only that, I have code enforcement authority and that if they didn’t remove the sign, I would call a uniformed officer on my cell phone and have him come and confiscate the sign (also true).

One of them took a step forward toward me but the other one grabbed him. He said to me “Aren’t you that basketball ref?” I said I was. He then said to the other one “Come on, let’s go. I’ve seen this guy ref some of my son’s games and if he says it’s the rule, then it’s the rule. Besides, he never gives anyone a break.”

The first guy stood there for a moment, shrugged, then picked up the sign and put it back in their van. They got in and drove away.

I guess once a ref, always a ref.