Signs being placed near the intersection of the Bypass's east entrance on St. Croix. Photo Credit: ERNICE GILBERT, V.I. CONSORTIUM.
The 36th Legislature voted Friday to override Governor Albert Bryan Jr.’s veto of Section 9 of Act 9100, restoring a fee exemption for temporary, non-commercial signs, while also advancing a measure addressing compensation for unused leave for legislative employees upon separation.
The motion to override the governor’s veto was made by Senator Marvin Blyden, who introduced the section as a non-germane amendment to Bill 36-0236 during a previous legislative session.
Mr. Blyden’s amendment mandated that fees associated with commercial signs “shall not apply to a temporary non-commercial sign, poster, notice, or other advertising device” under section 506a of Title 29, Chapter 9.
That chapter defines a non-commercial sign as one that “communicates a message concerning an election, candidate, political committee, ballot question, referendum, public question, civic matter, religious message, ideological message, charitable message, community event, or other non-commercial expression.”
Governor Bryan vetoed Section 9 of Act 9100, stating that “road signs can be an ugly impediment to our territory’s natural beauty and fines or fees are necessary to maintain order for the erection and removal of such signs in a timely manner.”
The governor will now be informed of the Legislature’s decision to override the veto.
During Friday’s session, the 36th Legislature also voted favorably on several special-ordered bills.
Bill 36-0310 amends Acts 8870 and 8985 regarding the $1 million appropriated in Act 8870 for the Ivana Eudora Kean High School track and field facilities.
Bill 36-0312 amends Act 9022 regarding compensation for unused leave for legislative employees upon separation.
Bill 36-0309 appropriates $383,784 from the Virgin Islands Education Initiative Fund to the Department of Education to conduct extended school year evaluations to determine students’ eligibility for special education services.
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