There are certain things you can count on as sure signs of summer. They sprout up as regular as clockwork: orange construction cones, kids on bikes, flowers - and garage sale signs.

But the construction cones eventually are put away, children return to school, snow covers the flowers but the garage sale signs sometimes stay forever.

What can be done about these multicolored posters that pepper every pole at every intersection in area communities?

The signs are necessary, some will argue. They point to hidden side streets and small out-of-the-way houses that customers would never find without direction. But they become a nuisance when they remain long after the sale has ended.

Local towns and villages all have policies concerning these signs and their removal. The Village of Spencerport, for example, has a strict code that says signs may not go up more than 24 hours in advance of a sale and must be removed within 24 hours after a sale. Kevin Wilson, the assistant building inspector, said that even though there is a strict code, it is hard to enforce. "We simply don't have the manpower to police these signs and their removal."

The same refrain is heard in the Town of Clarkson, although Town Clerk Fran Wilcox did say that the highway department on occasion will remove them if they are obstructing intersections. She hasn't heard of the longevity of the signs being an issue in Clarkson, but does feel they are an eyesore, particularly at major intersections that will at times have five or more signs nailed on one pole.

In Hamlin Code Enforcement Officer Larry Gursslin has been very proactive in enforcing the town's policy. Two years ago, the Town of Hamlin rewrote the code concerning these signs and others. All signs must meet the community standard or he will remove them. "I have even, on occasion, taken the sign directly to the homeowner and discussed the situation with them," he said.

He removes any signs that appear to be obstructing visibility. Gursslin also pointed out that it is illegal for anyone to post anything on a utility pole and he always removes these immediately. He particularly is annoyed by signs advertising weight loss and paintball games. "The occasional garage sale sign that goes up on a Friday and is gone by Monday isn't as big an issue as these illegal advertising signs," Larry said.

In the two years since the code was rewritten and enforced, Larry does not feel that Hamlin has a garage sale sign problem.

A local village homeowner (who asked not to be identified) who lives at the corner of two major intersections says he and his family have been fighting with garage sale posters since he was a young child. "I bought my parents' home, so I know first-hand that for decades this has been a problem," he said. People are very brazen about posting signs on the poles outside his yard and even worse, will stick large signs right in his lawn. "If even one of them would ever ask my permission, I would probably say fine but never in all these years has anyone ever asked."

This homeowner removes the signs as soon as he sees them and holds them out for garbage day. "I try to position them by the garbage toter so the perpetrator might see it in my trash if they drive by and get my point." While he has never spoken directly to a person leaving a sign, he says he hopes the message is one of respect for his property, no matter how good a location it is for advertising.

Planners of garage sales might profit from following a few guidelines. Basically follow some simple rules. Ask before placing a sign on anyone else's property. Never hang a sign on a utility pole. Make certain your sign isn't too large to be obstructive. Most of all, always remove your sign as soon as the sale is over.