PARIS — A business owner fined by the town for putting store signs up prematurely said town officials gave him permission to do so. 

Joshua Tice said Wednesday afternoon that the town code enforcement officer gave him clearance to place signs for his businesses, Perfect Touch, L/A Luxury Limousine and Harris Brothers Rubbish Removal, even though he had not received Planning Board approval. 

“I completely understand what they’re trying to do by making businesses go through the proper channels,” Tice said. “My biggest problem is it’s hard, because I’m from this area, and my family has done business around here. The last thing I want to do is give the impression I don’t care about the rules.”

On Monday, selectmen agreed to fine Tice $75, or $25 for each sign, after finding he did not have have an application signed by the Planning Board. Violators who correct the infraction within 30 days will be completely reimbursed. 

Tice said it wasn’t the money that bothered him, but the impression that he willfully flaunted the rules when he believed in good faith he was obeying the town ordinance.

Tice said he submitted an initial application with the town several months ago, and was told of the meeting dates for the Planning Board. When he came to the meeting however, no one was there. 

After learning that the application was never filed with the Planning Board, he took out another application but never submitted it. 

“It was during peak season and we were blessed enough to be crazy busy,” he said. 

Code Enforcement Officer Fred Collins said he contacted Tice’s business office on several occasions over the past couple of months, and went to the office in person to meet with him to urge him to submit the paperwork.

When Tice wasn’t available, Collins left information with the office’s business manager, who forwarded it. 

Coming under a tight window to put up the signs because of construction schedules, Tice said he believed he’d received the green light from Collins to put up the signs and seek Planning Board approval retroactively. 

“I was told the worst that could happen is the town would tell me to put the sign down,” he said.

Collins said Wednesday that he had approved pouring concrete posts and raising metal braces from the signs, but cautioned Tice not to erect the signs until the Planning Board review. 

“We’re not trying to discourage people but they need to go through the proper channels. The Planning Board wants approval of signs so they’re not offensive to other people,” Collins said.